- May 21, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a move to shore up their pass defense, trading for veteran safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.
Jacksonville sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Atlanta in the exchange. Bates will step in for Eric Murray, who was placed on injured reserve November 3 with an elbow injury and is done for the season.
Bates, 29, made the Pro Bowl in his first Falcons campaign in 2023. He has recorded an interception in all nine of his NFL seasons, totaling 28 for his career. The Jaguars currently sit 22nd in pass defense and will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The 6-2 Jaguars hold a comfortable AFC South lead and lead the NFL in turnover margin at plus-9.
Atlanta, which fell to 3-6 after Sunday's loss in Madrid, was unlikely to re-sign Bates with new general manager Ian Cunningham emphasizing draft capital. The Falcons will have over $142 million in salary cap space this offseason.
Mickey's Angle: Jacksonville's betting on a proven ballhawk to patch a leaky secondary during a playoff push, while Atlanta's new brain trust is stockpiling assets for a longer rebuild around its young offensive core.
Source: ESPN (also reported by ProFootballTalk, CBS Sports) - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.