Former Wake Forest University football standout Jessie Bates III is heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Atlanta Falcons agreed to trade the veteran safety in exchange for two future NFL draft picks. The move gives North Carolina football fans another reason to follow a major development ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
The Jacksonville Jaguars officially announced the acquisition on Monday, November 9. Under the agreement, Jacksonville will send Atlanta a 2027 second-round draft selection and a 2028 fifth-round selection. The trade is pending a physical examination, according to the Jaguars. Source: Jacksonville Jaguars official announcement
Jessie Bates' Connection to North Carolina
Bates played college football at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from 2015 through 2017. He developed into one of the program's leading defensive players before entering the 2018 NFL Draft. His connection to Wake Forest gives the trade a direct link to the North Carolina college football community. Source: Wake Forest Athletics player profile
During his Wake Forest career, Bates recorded 179 tackles and six interceptions. In 2016, he earned consensus Freshman All-American recognition after recording five interceptions and becoming one of the standout young defensive players in the ACC. Source: Wake Forest Athletics
What the Falcons Receive in the Trade
Atlanta will receive a second-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2028 draft. The Falcons confirmed the agreement in their official announcement, describing the deal as an opportunity to add future draft capital. Atlanta also restructured Bates' contract before the trade is completed. Source: Atlanta Falcons official announcement
The move ends Bates' time with Atlanta, where he joined the team as a free agent in 2023 after spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Falcons described him as a reliable presence in their secondary and noted his impact since arriving in Atlanta. Source: Atlanta Falcons
Bates Brings Experience to Jacksonville
Bates, 29, has established himself as an experienced NFL safety. The Jaguars said he has started all 139 regular-season games he has played in during his career with Cincinnati and Atlanta. His career totals listed by Jacksonville include 28 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles. Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
In nine games with Atlanta during the 2026 season, Bates recorded 60 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception, according to the Falcons' player statistics. Jacksonville is adding a veteran defensive playmaker as it prepares for the second half of the season. Source: Atlanta Falcons player statistics
What the Trade Means for North Carolina Football Fans
Although the trade involves two NFL teams outside North Carolina, Bates' background at Wake Forest makes the move relevant to readers across the state, particularly Demon Deacons supporters in Winston-Salem and the surrounding region.
His professional journey from Wake Forest to the NFL, followed by stops in Cincinnati and Atlanta, now takes another turn in Jacksonville. North Carolina fans who followed his college career can watch how he contributes to the Jaguars during the remainder of the 2026 season.
The trade remains subject to the completion of Bates' physical examination. The Jaguars and Falcons have published their respective announcements, and further updates about his integration into Jacksonville's defense are expected from the team. Sources: Jacksonville Jaguars | Atlanta Falcons
