The Jacksonville Jaguars have made a splash move ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, acquiring Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
In return, the Jaguars are sending a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Atlanta.
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Here are three things to know about the Jaguars’ newest safety.
In part, the safety position has grown thin for the Jaguars. Caleb Ransaw was placed on injured reserve after Week 4, while starter Eric Murray suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 8. But in addition to that, Bates has proven to be a difference-maker in the secondary, giving the Jaguars’ already robust defense a boost.
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.
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Bates is a one-time Pro Bowler and a three-time second-team All-Pro.
For additional insight into Bates and what he can add to this Jaguars’ defense, here is what Matt Urben of Falcons Wire had to say:
“Bates is an exceptional talent, and arguably the NFL’s top ballhawk (28 career interceptions). The versatile safety will instantly improve the Jaguars’ secondary with his elite range and leadership ability. Over his three-plus seasons in Atlanta, Bates was a consistent difference-maker and helped turn one of the league’s worst secondaries into a respectable unit. The most underrated aspect of Bates’ game is his toughness. The 29-year-old did not miss a single game over the last four years.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars have faced a tight salary cap situation all year. According to Over the Cap, the Jaguars have only $4.329 million in available cap space at the moment. Bates, meanwhile, is owed $6.5 million for the remainder of the season.
So how did GM James Gladstone make this trade work?
According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons will pay most of Bates’ remaining salary to help the addition work with the Jaguars’ cap situation. This likely resulted in Jacksonville having to give up more to Atlanta to help faciliate the deal.
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Bates is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 3 things to know about new Jaguars’ safety Jessie Bates
