Grading The Trade: Jaguars pay a steep price for major defensive addition, while the Falcons continue stockpiling under new leadership
The NFL trade deadline is hours away and the first trade of the new week has been made with the Atlanta Falcons sending safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The NFL trade deadline is creeping closer and closer with all moves needed to be finalized by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. And two teams just made the latest deal to kick start the frenzy on Monday morning.
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to trade veteran safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. It was a steep price to pay for a 29-year-old safety, but it was a move the Jaguars felt they needed to make to add an impact player to the defense.
As for the Falcons, the deal was an easy decision for new general manager Ian Cunningham to make to add more draft capital to continue bolstering this roster while opening the door for younger players to step up.
Let’s take a closer look at the deal for both teams and give a grade for each side of this trade.
This was a move the Jaguars felt like they were forced to make for a variety of reasons
Starting with the Jaguars, it’s clear that general manager James Gladstone isn’t afraid of making a big swing. Coming from the Les Snead tree, we shouldn’t expect anything less. But, this was a sizable move for a player that’s falling out of his prime.
Yes, Jessie Bates III was still a second-team All Pro selection last season. And yes, he’s played 60 consecutive games since signing with the Falcons back in 2023. But the Pro Bowl-caliber play is starting to fall for this 29-year-old. However, this is a sign that the Jaguars still believe Bates is capable of bringing high-level play, even if it’s more mental ability than physical at this stage of his career.
There was also a clear need for this kind of cerebral player on this defense. The Jaguars were exploring the defensive tackle and safety markets after losing DaVon Hamilton and Eric Murray. Jacksonville got their safety in Bates, and we’ll see if Gladstone is able to make another swing for a defensive tackle.
At 6-2, the Jaguars have a commanding lead atop the AFC South and will be a real force to be reckoned with in the AFC playoff picture. Bates is no stranger to playoff football after being in Cincinnati during his first five seasons. It was a necessary move to make, even at that price, for a playoff mercenary and could look even better if Bates plays his way into a new contract in Jacksonville.
Grade: B
Falcons get incredible value for an aging player on an expiring contract
On the flip side of things, the Falcons absolutely fleeced the Jaguars here in terms of overall value. According to the A to Z Sports Trade Simulator, Bates had a trade value of 420 points while the value of the second-round pick (714) and the fifth-round pick (140) came out to a total of 854 points.
That alone makes this a win for general manager Ian Cunningham, who has already had a strong start to his tenure in Atlanta. The Falcons are in a tough spot where they have the talent and coaching to compete in a weak NFC South division, but also need to stockpile draft picks for a potential mini-rebuild after this season, one that could include finding a new quarterback.
Cunningham is walking that line perfectly. He’s locked up his young franchise talent, added new young pieces such as Gervon Dexter Sr., and now make a big swing to add a premium selection to his arsenal in 2027.
Getting that kind of value for an aging player on an expiring contract is exceptional work by the Falcons’ front office. And now it opens up the window for the Falcons to really see what they have in Xavier Watts, Sydney Brown, and DeMarcco Hellams down the stretch.
Grade: A
