The Jacksonville Jaguars made the first splash of NFL trade deadline week by sending two draft picks to the Atlanta Falcons for safety Jessie Bates III, the teams announced Monday.
The package includes a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
"Jessie has been a proven playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the last 8-plus seasons," Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said in a statement. "His skill set complements our style of play, and the person he is aligns with our culture. We look forward to integrating Jessie into our team as we prepare for the back half of the season."
Bates was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and has been named a second-team All-Pro three times in his career. In Jacksonville, he'll likely slot in for starter Eric Murray, whom the Jaguars recently placed on injured reserve due to an elbow injury.
The 29-year-old Bates is in the final year of a four-year contract he signed in 2023. The Falcons will pay most of his remaining $6.5-million salary to complete the deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The move will give Bates the rare possibility of playing 18 games in a league with a 17-game regular season. The Falcons haven't yet reached their Week 11 bye, while the Jaguars did so in Week 7.
