- Close
ESPN Staff Writer- Michael DiRocco is an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner.
- Close
ESPN Staff Writer- Marc Raimondi's first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday, beginning in 2009, covering high school and college sports, plus the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.
- Close
NFL draft analyst- Jordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation's top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then went on to coach there from 2014-18.
- Close
ESPN Staff Writer- Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine's Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars addressed two of their biggest weaknesses ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline by acquiring safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons and defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacksonville gave up a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Bates and a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick for Davis. The Jaguars also traded a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick for New Orleans Saints DT Davon Godchaux, who will provide depth.
At 6-2, the Jaguars are in third place in the AFC and have a three-game lead in the AFC South. These moves could suggest a win-now mentality.
Bates, who made the Pro Bowl in 2023, can stabilize a secondary that has been hit with multiple injuries at safety and cornerback. The Jaguars made a similar move last season at the trade deadline by acquiring receiver Jakobi Meyers to help a position group that had multiple players out with injuries. That keyed an offensive surge that carried the team to a division title. The hope is that Bates can do the same for the secondary because getting through the AFC means beating some of the league's top quarterbacks -- especially Buffalo's Josh Allen.
The Falcons, on the other hand, were able to get good draft capital for a player on an expiring contract but are still competing in the NFC South.
For the Jaguars, adding Davis and Godchaux secures a defensive front that lost nose tackle DaVon Hamilton for the rest of the season with a quad injury.
Davis is coming off a career year in 2025 which he posted highs in sacks (4.5), tackles for loss (nine), quarterback hits (six), tackles (72) and passes defensed (six), helping him land a three-year, $78 million contract extension in March.
The Eagles, who have traded away multiple players this year, seem to be retooling for the future.
What does this move mean for the Jaguars' defense, the Eagles' future and the Falcons' draft plans? ESPN NFL Nation reporters Michael DiRocco, Marc Raimondi and Tim McManus and NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid take a look at how the trades impact each team.
Jump to a team:
Are Jaguars going all-in after acquiring Davis?
What does this trade mean for the Eagles?
What can Philadelphia do with those draft picks?
What does Bates bring to Jags' defense?
Could the Jags extend Bates' contract?
What does trading Bates say about the Falcons' trajectory?
What can Atlanta do with those draft picks?
Are the Jaguars going all-in after acquiring Jordan Davis?
It absolutely seems that way.
According to DraftKings, Jacksonville is now third in Super Bowl odds (moved from +850 to +750 after the trades) behind the 49ers (+540) and Bills (+650).
Davis -- the No. 13 pick in 2022 -- is one of the best young defensive tackles in the league. According to ESPN Analytics and NFL Next Gen Stats, Davis has the fifth-best run stop win rate (38%) among qualified interior linemen since he entered the NFL in 2022. The Jaguars are 31st in the NFL in RSWR this season (25.7%), ahead of only the Jets (24.6%).
But it isn't just Davis. The Jaguars also added a ball-hawking safety in Bates and the run-stuffing defensive tackle Godchaux -- and don't be surprised if general manager James Gladstone isn't finished, either. The pass rush still needs work, too.
Even if the Jaguars don't add anyone else, the improvements on defense could arguably make them AFC favorite. Winning the AFC means getting past Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, and Davis and Bates can help with that. The biggest issue the Jaguars had in last season's postseason loss to Buffalo was not being able to stop Allen in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars twice took the lead, and each time Allen led the Bills on touchdown drives to regain it. He completed 9 of 11 passes, wasn't sacked, and carried the ball five times, including an 11-yard run on fourth-and-1 on those two drives.
Monday's moves aren't quite a Hail Mary to reach the Super Bowl, but they will be criticized heavily if the Jaguars don't at least reach the AFC Championship Game. They gave up their 2027 first-round pick in the package to get Davis and a 2027 second-round pick in the package to get Bates. (Reminder: They also didn't have a 2026 first-round draft pick due to the trade to draft Travis Hunter).
That's significant capital, plus they inherit Davis' three-year, $78 million contract extension that begins in 2027. Bates is in the final year of his contract, and giving up multiple picks (including the second rounder) is steep if they have don't re-sign him.
The Jaguars have multiple key players on expiring contracts, most notably receiver Parker Washington and safety Antonio Johnson. A Washington deal is expected to be north of $25 million annually, so that will factor into future cap conversations. There also are some current contracts that likely will need to be reworked going forward, especially defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, who has a $41.3 million cap figure in 2027 -- a large number for a player with only 1.5 sacks through eight games.
So, it definitely seems like it's a Super Bowl or bust for the Jaguars. -- DiRocco
What does this trade signal for the Eagles?
That they've stepped even further into retooling mode. General manager Howie Roseman is normally looking to add talent at this time of year for a team regularly in contention, but this has the makings of a lost season, and the Eagles are showing an openness to moving on from contributors if the value is right.
They did so with center Cam Jurgens, acquiring a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round selection from the Baltimore Ravens for him and a 2027 seventh-rounder. Combine those moves with the A.J. Brown trade to the New England Patriots this offseason, and the Eagles now have two first-round picks in both the 2027 and 2028 drafts and a total of 10 picks in the first two rounds over the next three years.
The team can also now set its sights on extending defensive tackle Moro Ojomo. The Eagles have been signaling a reluctance to trade Ojomo in front of the deadline even though he is in the last year of his rookie contract. They'll look to sign him long term to pair with Jalen Carter, who inked a four-year, $152 million extension in July. -- McManus
What can Philadelphia do with those incoming picks?
Edge rusher and offensive tackle are two positions that will be high on the draft-day priority list for the Eagles. ESPN's Football Power Index projects Philadelphia to pick at No. 4 (its own pick) and No. 30 (the newly acquired Jaguars pick) in Round 1. I have to assume the Eagles will look at one of the top edges with that first pick -- South Carolina's Dylan Stewart or Texas' Colin Simmons -- but if they wait until Jacksonville's slot, Notre Dame's Boubacar Traore, Alabama's Yhonzae Pierre or Clemson's Will Heldt could fit. Alternatively, if the Eagles go edge early, they can use that extra first-rounder on an offensive tackle such as Texas' Trevor Goosby and Iowa's Trevor Lauck. -- Reid
What does Jessie Bates III bring to Jaguars' defense?
The Jaguars rank second in the league in opponents points per game (15.1), yet 22nd in passing yards allowed per game (229.0).
Starting safety Eric Murray, who went on injured reserve on Nov. 3 with a season-ending elbow injury, didn't have an interception or pass breakup this season but he was valued because he was a good communicator on the field. Bates brings that, but he also has good ball skills (28 career interceptions).
Bates' durability is a huge plus, too. He has missed three games in his nine-year career while Murray has missed seven games since he signed with the Jaguars in March 2025. Murray's injury, which happened on the first play of Week 8, as well as injuries to Caleb Ransaw (placed on IR on Oct. 6 with a knee injury) and Antonio Johnson (ankle) forced the Jaguars to use special teams standout Rayuan Lane III and practice squad player Kaevon Merriweather more on defense. While both played well -- Lane made a game-saving fourth-down tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals and had a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Colts -- this move gives the Jaguars a good safety tandem.
This move also gives coordinator Anthony Campanile a little more versatility in how he wants to use his safeties, because he now has two players who can play closer to the line of scrimmage, whether that's in base or nickel packages. Bates also brings more as a blitzer than Murray and that should allow Campanile to be a little more creative. -- DiRocco
Could the Jaguars extend Bates' contract?
The Jaguars traded for Meyers (who turns 30 today) last November and signed him to a three-year extension, so signing a 29-year-old safety isn't out of the question -- especially if they're unable to work out an extension for Johnson, who is in the final season of his rookie contract. But the Jaguars have some 2027 cap work to do because before the trade for Davis, they're were projected to be $15.4 million over the salary cap, per OverTheCap. Now with Davis' extension to factor in -- as well as others on expiring contracts -- it will be interesting to see if the Jaguars end up re-signing Bates. -- DiRocco
What does trading the star safety say about the Falcons' trajectory this season?
The Falcons are 3-6, but still only one game out of first place in the NFC South. Atlanta still has a chance to win the division and make the playoffs, which it has not done since 2017. Bates could have helped the Falcons achieve that -- he's still playing at a very high level. But how could Atlanta turn down a second-round pick for a safety who will turn 30 years old in February?
The Falcons have gone either 8-9 or 7-10 the last five seasons. At some point, they need to make the football decisions that get them to a stronger, deeper roster and not just dwell in the middle like they have been, hoping to take advantage of a weak division. Atlanta was unlikely to re-sign Bates in the offseason, so why not get something substantial in return for him now rather than wait to see if the team can somehow sneak into the playoffs?
Second-year safety Xavier Watts, who had five interceptions as a rookie, will step into Bates' role on the Falcons defense. Bates has been a mentor to Watts, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has relished that Watts has patterned his game after Bates.
Atlanta also has young defensive backs Billy Bowman Jr. and Avieon Terrell who are ready to take on more responsibilities in the secondary, along with solid veterans DeMarcco Hellams and Sydney Brown, both of whom could start with Bates on the move. Bowman also has experience playing safety.
Bates has also been a mentor to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The two have had lockers next to one another since Penix was a rookie in 2024. Bates has been one of Penix's staunchest advocates. Bates will be missed on the field and off, but the Falcons decided it was an offer too good to refuse. -- Raimondi
What can Atlanta do with those incoming picks?
Offensive tackle and cornerback are two obvious areas of need for the Falcons. With an extra Day 2 pick, Atlanta could look to target protection for Michael Penix Jr. and Melvin Siani (Texas), Elijah Paige (USC) and Drew Azzopardi (Washington) would be names that could be available in that range and help. At cornerback, I think Audavion Collins (Penn State), Jalen Mayo (Houston) or Vicari Swain (South Carolina) could make sense, too. -- Reid
