The Jacksonville Jaguars have made the move official, announcing on Monday that they acquired safety Jessie Bates in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons.
To land Bates, Jacksonville is parting with a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons will pay most of Bates' remaining $6.5 million salary to help the addition work with the Jaguars' cap situation.
As of now, Bates is set to be a free agent after the 2026 season.
After making the deal official, GM James Gladstone weighed in on the trade.
"Jessie has been a proven playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the last 8+ seasons," said Gladstone in a statement via Jaguars.com. "His skillset 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 has had very strong ball production over his career, totaling 30 interceptions and 46 pass breakups since entering the NFL in 2018. He's also been durable, playing in all 60 games with the Falcons since joining the team in 2023.
Bates is a one-time Pro Bowler and a three-time second-team All-Pro. He will step into a starting role next to Antonio Johnson with Eric Murray out for the season.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars' James Gladstone on decision to trade for Falcons S Jessie Bates
