The Jaguars announced their trade for safety Jessie Bates on Monday.
Bates is heading to Jacksonville to bolster a position that has been hit by injuries this season. Eric Murray will miss the rest of the year with an elbow injury and Antonio Johnson missed Week 8 with an ankle injury before returning for last Thursday’s win against the Ravens.
“Jessie has been a proven playmaker on the defensive end over the past 8 seasons,” Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said in a statement. “His skills complement our style of play and the person he is fits our culture. We look forward to integrating Jessie into our team as we prepare for the second half of the season.”
The Jaguars are sending a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Falcons. The Falcons also agreed to pay most of Bates’ salary for the remainder of this season. Bates is set to become a free agent in March.
Bates was a second-team All-Pro for the third time in his career last season. He has one interception this season and has 14 in his three-plus years with the Falcons.
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