The Jacksonville Jaguars are all-in on a Super Bowl run.
The Jaguars made three major defensive trades, acquiring safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons, defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles, and Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints.
The trades boost an already stalwart defense for a Jaguars team in prime position to compete in the AFC playoffs.
The Jags confirmed the Bates trade on Monday morning. Jacksonville will send a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for the veteran safety.
“Jessie has been a proven playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the last 8+ seasons,” Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone said in the team’s announcement.
“His skillset complements our style of play and the person he is aligns with our culture. We look forward to integrating Jessie into our team as we prepare for the back half of the season.”
A nine-year veteran, Bates comes in to fill the gap left by veteran Eric Murray, who is out for the rest of the 2026 season with an elbow injury. Bates’ veteran experience also helps shore up a young secondary headlined by 2025 second overall pick Travis Hunter; fifth-year pro Montaric “Buster” Brown; fourth-year free safety Antonio Johnson; and veteran nickel corner Jourdan Lewis.
Pass defense has been the Jaguars’ weak point: they boast the 10th-ranked defense in the NFL, but their passing defense ranks 22nd in the league in yards allowed at 229 yards per game.
A Wake Forest product, Bates was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent his first 5 seasons with the Bengals before joining the Falcons in free agency in 2023. He has missed just three games in his 9-year career and has totaled 871 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 74 passes defended, 28 interceptions with 4 touchdowns, 14 forced fumbles, 4 recoveries, and a touchdown.
The team confirmed the trades for Davis and Godchaux on Monday afternoon. The Jags sent a conditional sixth-round pick for Godchaux.
“We feel strongly about Davon and what he can bring to the team both on and off the field,” Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone said. “Much like Jessie, he has been a productive player in this league for a number of years and provides stability up front to further solidify our defensive line.”
The Miami Dolphins drafted Godchaux out of LSU in the fifth round of the 2017 Draft. He played four years in South Florida, then four years with the New England Patriots; he spent the past two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. In 145 games, he has totaled 487 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, 23 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The Jags did not announce their draft-pick compensation for Davis; ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that Jacksonville sent their 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to the Eagles.
The Eagles drafted Davis out of Georgia with the 13th pick in the 2022 Draft. He has totaled 193 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, 11 passes defensed, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his five seasons. He won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles in 2025.
Godchaux and Davis will fill in for veteran D-tackle DaVon Hamilton, who is out for the year with a torn quadriceps muscle.
While the back end has struggled, the front seven has been a bright spot. The Jags are ranked fifth in rushing defense, giving up just 89.3 yards per game. They are second in points per game, allowing just 15.1 points per game.
After falling short in the Wild Card round last season, the Jags are in prime position to make a deep playoff run. At the midpoint of the season, Jacksonville sits at 6-2, atop the AFC South and half a game behind the Denver Broncos for the conference’s second seed.
