The NFL trade deadline is a little more than 24 hours away, and Monday morning brought another significant move as teams look to strengthen their playoff chances.
Jacksonville has traded for Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III to bolster its secondary. The deal:
- Jacksonville receives Jessie Bates III.
- Atlanta receives a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
Jaguars grade: B
Jacksonville is playing like one of the league’s top teams. At 6-2 heading into Week 10, the Jaguars lead the AFC South by three games over Houston. They also have the NFL’s best point differential, at plus-108, and rank among the league’s strongest teams on both sides of the ball.
With a genuine chance to contend, it makes sense for general manager James Gladstone to be active before the deadline. Jacksonville had reportedly been seeking defensive playmakers, and Bates fits the bill. Atlanta covering most of his contract makes the trade more appealing, too.
The main question is how long the Jaguars will have him. Bates is in the final year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. He could turn out to be a one-season rental. If Jacksonville works out an extension, that would make the deal look better; for now, the contract situation keeps the grade in check.
Jaguars grade: B, with room to improve if the team signs Bates to an extension.
Falcons grade: B+
Trading away an important defensive player is a curious choice for Atlanta, which remains within reach of the NFC South lead. The Falcons are 3-6 and sit last in the division, but the first-place Carolina Panthers are only 3-5. Atlanta has also already beaten Carolina this season, so there’s at least a case for the Falcons to buy rather than sell.
Still, Bates is approaching free agency, and this may have been Atlanta’s best chance to get meaningful value for him instead of potentially receiving only a compensatory draft pick. A second-rounder in 2027 and a fifth-rounder in 2028 is a solid return. The Falcons could also have missed out on a compensatory pick if their spending in free agency offsets it; they’re projected to have more than $100 million in cap space next offseason.
The return also appears stronger than an earlier estimate that Bates might fetch a third- and sixth-round pick. Atlanta gets a good grade for turning a pending free agent into two selections.
Falcons grade: B+
