The Jacksonville Jaguars are loading up their defense for the stretch run.
The team on Monday agreed to acquire safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick, according to multiple reports.
The move comes one day ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Bates, 29, is a former Pro Bowl selection who is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract he signed in 2023.
He fills the void left by Eric Murray suffering a season-ending elbow injury in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts.
At 6-2, the Jaguars have won five of their last six games and lead the AFC South by three games. Bates, who has developed a reputation as one of the league's premier ballhawks and ranks third among
active players with 28 career interceptions, could further boost a defense that currently stands third in takeaways with 15.
The Falcons, meanwhile, are 3-6 but have dropped their last two games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Surging Jaguars land former Pro Bowl safety in trade with Falcons
