Teams Interested In Falcons’ Jessie Bates; S Unlikely To Be Traded

Atlanta is likely to remain quiet at the upcoming trade deadline, ESPN’s Marc Raimondi writes. Any potential moves would prioritize adding (rather than spending) draft capital, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms. Calls have of course been made regarding a number of Falcons, and safety Jessie Bates is among those receiving interest.

The ninth-year veteran has been the subject of trade inquiries, per Raimondi’s colleague Dan Graziano. He adds a trade is unlikely in this case given the high asking price Atlanta will maintain. Bates, 29, is a pending free agent. His base salary for 2026 ($13.02MM) would be challenging for most contenders to afford, even with only the prorated remainder being owed by an acquiring team.

As a result, Jonathan Jones of The Athletic writes the Falcons would need to retain money to facilitate any potential Bates trade. That adds further to the chances of Atlanta turning down inquiries. Bates received a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, his first Falcons campaign. The former Bengal also earned second-team All-Pro honors that season, and he has done so on two other occasions. Bates has remained a full-time starter in 2026, notching one interception and four pass deflections while recording a touchdown on a fumble recovery.

Atlanta has 2025 third-rounder Xavier Watts in place as a safety mainstay alongside Bates. His rookie contract runs through 2028, so a new Bates investment would keep that tandem intact. The Falcons agreed to a four-year pact averaging just over $16MM per season after Bates played on the franchise tag in 2022.

Another long-term pact would come as no surprise for the Wake Forest product. As long as Atlanta turns aside trade interest over the coming days, attention will turn to the matter of a new contract in Bates’ case and low-impact moves regarding other candidates for a change of scenery.