The AFC South leaders just got a lot more dangerous on the back end.

The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, one day before the NFL trade deadline. Jacksonville sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Atlanta. The deal is pending a physical.

Atlanta restructured Bates' contract before the trade was completed and the Falcons are reportedly covering most of his remaining salary. Bates is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million deal.

Filling a hole in the secondary

Bates steps in for starting safety Eric Murray, who was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 3 and will miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury.

"Jessie has been a proven playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the last 8+ seasons" Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said. "His skillset complements our style of play and the person he is aligns with our culture."

The Jaguars (6-2) hold a three-game lead in the division and lead the NFL with a plus-9 turnover margin. They rank fifth against the run but 22nd against the pass at 229 yards per game. They visit the 1-7 Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

A ballhawk with a long résumé

Bates, 29, has started all 139 games he has played in the NFL across stints with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Falcons. He has 28 career interceptions and has picked off at least one pass in every season. He made the Pro Bowl in 2023 after a career-high six interceptions and is a three-time second-team All-Pro.

This season he has 60 tackles, one interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble-return touchdown through nine games.

Atlanta looks ahead

The Falcons fell to 3-6 with Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Bengals in Madrid, though they are just one game out of first place in the NFC South. Bates was headed for free agency and the new regime of general manager Ian Cunningham, president of football Matt Ryan and coach Kevin Stefanski has stressed building through the draft. Second-year safety Xavier Watts is expected to take over Bates' role.