The Atlanta Falcons are sitting at a shaky 2-4 in the regular season, staring down a tough Week 7 matchup against the undefeated 6-0 49ers, and suddenly, talk of the trade deadline is heating up around a fan-favorite Pro Bowl player. While there’s finally some optimism with Michael Penix Jr. leading the offense to a 2-2 record as a starter, their overall poor showing has insiders wondering about potential moves, especially if they keep dropping games.
Jessie Bates III: On The Block?
So, who’s the guy drawing all this attention? It’s none other than beloved safety Jessie Bates III. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler just dropped a bombshell, saying Bates is a potential trade candidate. “Also, could a team pry safety Jessie Bates III out of Atlanta? He will be a free agent in 2027, and the Falcons are sitting at 2-4,” Fowler writes. He’s not wrong about Bates’ value, either. This guy has been an incredible player for the Falcons since he joined them in 2023, which was also the first time he made the Pro Bowl in his nine-year NFL career. With 27 career interceptions, any team needing safety help at the deadline would be tripping over themselves to get him. Fowler doubts Atlanta wants to trade him, but he also makes it clear that if things change, his value would be strong.
Why Would They Even Consider This?
It sounds wild to even think about trading a beloved Pro Bowler like Bates, right? But the Falcons have some hard reasons they might consider it this Fall. Here’s the cold truth: Bates is set to become a free agent once the 2026 NFL season is over. Unless they can lock him down with an extension, or are super confident they can, moving him now makes a lot more sense than losing him for nothing later. This trade scenario would only really kick in if the 2-4 Falcons manage to go 1-2 or worse over their next three games before the Week 10 trade deadline. If they’re sitting at 3-6 or worse, the front office would have a real reason to pull the trigger. It wouldn’t be popular with the fans, not at all, but for the long-term future of the franchise, trading Bates might actually be the best move.
So, what’s next? You gotta keep tabs on Bates rumors over the next few weeks, especially if the Falcons fall further outside the playoff hunt. For now, it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere, but things can change fast in the NFL.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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