The Atlanta Falcons are off to a disappointing 2-4 start, and with the NFL trade deadline approaching, star safety Jessie Bates III has started popping up in trade discussions around the league…
But the thing is, trading him right now would make little sense, especially with the Falcons still very much alive in the NFC South. Carolina currently leads the division at just 3-2, so Atlanta has plenty left to play for, even with their All-Pro safety set to enter a contract year.
Now sure there's a case for trading him. Bates is 29 and entering the final year of his four year, $64 million deal. If Atlanta doesn't think it can re-sign him, getting something back before he potentially leaves in free agency would be nice.
But the Falcons are only six games into the season, and the NFC South is still anyone's division at this point. Trading one of their best defensive players now would feel like giving up way too early. It would have to take an offer Ian Cunningham can't refuse to re-consider...
Falcons should focus on winning the NFC South at the trade deadline, not trading Jessie Bates
I get that the Atlanta Falcons haven't exactly given fans much reason to feel confident through six games. But somehow, they're still right in the middle of the division race.
Carolina currently sits atop the NFC South at 3-2, while Atlanta and New Orleans are both 2-4. Tampa Bay is sitting at the bottom at 1-5. That's a pretty favorable situation for a Falcons team that has struggled as much as Atlanta has.
Sure, the Dirty Birds have plenty of issues to address, especially on offense. But with the division this weak, there's no reason they shouldn't still be aiming to win it. And even though Xavier Watts is the future at safety, getting rid of Jessie Bates III would only make things tougher on everyone.
Atlanta's defense has already had its share of problems this season, and removing one of its most accomplished players would create another hole for a unit that can hardly afford one.
There's also the matter of what the Falcons would actually receive in return. Bates is an established veteran with a strong track record, but he's also approaching 30 and nearing free agency.
Any interested team would have to consider his next contract, potentially complicating Atlanta's chances of receiving the kind of compensation that would justify moving him compared to letting him walk in exchange for a 2028 comp pick--but Cunningham could be intrigued by adding an extra pick in 2027.
Now, if the Falcons continue losing over the next couple of weeks and fall completely out of contention, that's a different conversation. Atlanta still has games against the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the deadline, giving the organization an opportunity to get a better sense of where this season is headed.
But as things stand, the Falcons have a legitimate chance to compete for a division title despite their disappointing start. Giving up on that opportunity by trading Jessie Bates mid-playoff push would be awfully difficult to justify.
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