Jacksonville Jaguars Welcome Two New Additions To Defense

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Monday that they are adding two new players to their defense. They have acquired Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick. In addition, the Jags traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for DT Davon Godchaux.

Bates is a Pro Bowl safety and a former second-round draft pick out of Wake Forest. He played the last three years with Atlanta, his first destination after leaving the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him. He’s had All-Pro honors three times in his career.

Bates will move to the top of the depth chart at SS and jump Rayuan Lane III, as the Jaguars look to stack up for a playoff run after a promising 6-2 start. They are running away with the AFC South and are the only team above .500 in the division.

The Jags defense is 22nd against the pass this season, so the backfield could be an area where the team looked to make additions before the trade deadline. The move for Godchaux was needed to replace DaVon Hamilton, who was placed on the IR last week and is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Both Bates and Godchaux are in the final years of their contracts. With the trade deadline fast approaching on Tuesday, November 10, it remains to be seen whether these two moves will be their last before 4:00 p.m. Eastern tomorrow.