AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars make bold move, trading for Falcons safety Jessie Bates III

Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) and Xavier Watts (31) celebrate after Bates III intercepted a San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy pass during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) (Brynn Anderson/Associated Press) The Jacksonville Jaguars took a big swing a day before the NFL trade deadline, grabbing All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons on Monday morning, according to multiplereports.The Jaguars (6-2), who are just a half-game behind the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos for best record in the AFC and have a three-game lead over the Houston Texans in the AFC South, are giving up a second-round pick in next year's NFL draft and a fifth-rounder in 2028. By comparison, the Texans gave up a second- and seventh-rounder in exchange for receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and a sixth-round pick last month.Bates, who will turn 30 years old in February, is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract and is still playing well. The former second-round pick out of Wake Forest, made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and was second-team All-Pro last season. Bates, who has made 61 straight starts and hasn't missed a game since 2022, also was second-team All-Pro in 2020 and 2023."Woke up a Jaguar!," Bates posted on Twitter on Monday morning.The Jaguars had an urgent need at safety ever since former Texans defensive back Eric Murray was lost for the season due to an elbow he injury he suffered against the Colts last week. Murray, who left the Texans for a three-year, $19.5 million contract with Jacksonville following the 2024 season, had started 17 games for the Jaguars over the past two seasons before the injury.The Jaguars' defense ranks second in the league, giving up just 15.1 points per game, but they have been vulnerable through the air. Jacksonville ranks 22nd in pass defense, allowing 229 passing yards per game. When the Texans beat Jacksonville 34-31 in London last month, C.J. Stroud threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns.The Texans and Jaguars meet again on Dec. 20 at Reliant Stadium.SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars make bold move, trading for Falcons safety Jessie Bates III.