What happened: Atlanta traded safety Jessie Bates to Jacksonville for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, per Adam Schefter. Bates was in the final year of his contract and set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
Why it matters: The Falcons extended Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Matthew Bergeron this offseason but did not extend Bates. Atlanta has lost two straight, most recently 34-17 to Cincinnati, while Jacksonville has won two straight.
By the numbers: Falcons: 3-6 in 2026 through 9 games, seed 13. Jaguars: 6-2 in 2026 through 8 games, seed 3.
What to watch: Bates joins a Jaguars team holding the third seed, with his contract set to expire in March.