Why the San Francisco 49ers must target Atlanta Falcons All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III in a blockbuster last-minute trade before Week 1.
The San Francisco 49ers are still addressing one of the major concerns surrounding their defense as Nick Bosa works his way back from a second ACL reconstruction on the same knee. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has indicated that Bosa’s recent absence is due to tendinitis and soreness, rather than a new structural injury. However, orthopedic specialists have cautioned that undergoing revision ACL surgery can make the recovery process less predictable, prompting San Francisco to exercise caution.
Meanwhile, Mac Jones has generated a different type of uncertainty after Kurtis Rourke’s impressive preseason debut raised speculation about whether the 49ers might eventually trade their veteran backup. The team was already open to trading Jones during the offseason, and Rourke’s emergence adds intrigue to the quarterback situation, although recent discussions have framed this as analysis rather than indications of an imminent trade.
These developments are important, but if John Lynch is considering one last move before Week 1, the 49ers should prioritize strengthening their defense over simply trading Jones. A sensible target to pursue would be Jessie Bates III, the safety from the Atlanta Falcons.
49ers should trade a 2027 third-round pick for Jessie Bates III
There is an important distinction to make before proceeding: Atlanta has not been reported to be actively shopping Jessie Bates III, so this proposed deal is hypothetical rather than indicative of ongoing negotiations. Recently, ESPN suggested a framework that would send Bates and a 2028 sixth-round pick to San Francisco in exchange for a 2027 third-rounder.
For the 49ers, the appeal of this trade begins with fit. Bates spent multiple seasons in Atlanta under Raheem Morris, who is now the defensive coordinator for San Francisco. This means Bates would arrive with familiarity regarding Morris’s defensive philosophy and terminology, allowing him to integrate more smoothly instead of starting from scratch shortly before the regular season. This familiarity is crucial at the safety position, where communication, route recognition, and pre-snap responsibilities are vital. A talented newcomer can become much less effective if they take weeks to acclimate.
Adding Bates would also help address a specific area where the 49ers need improvement, and ESPN noted that San Francisco finished 25th in expected points added (EPA) allowed per dropback last season. The current safety lineup features Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha, both of whom can still play important roles, but bringing in Bates would provide Morris with a proven veteran in the middle of the secondary. This would also offer the coaching staff more flexibility in deploying younger defensive backs around him.
This potential trade would not be based solely on name recognition. Bates earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after producing six interceptions and three forced fumbles. Although his performance has not consistently matched those impressive statistics, coaches and executives still ranked him fifth among NFL safeties heading into 2026, according to an offseason survey. For a team aiming to return to the Super Bowl rather than merely build for the future, a player of this caliber is worth considering, even if it’s just for one season.
The contractual situation makes the idea even more appealing, as Bates is entering the final year of his deal, and ESPN estimates that taking on his contract would cost San Francisco roughly $13 million for 2026, which is manageable for a player of his talent. Moreover, his pending free agency prevents the acquisition cost from escalating to the level typically associated with a top safety under long-term control. This is why a trade involving a third-round selection, with a sixth-rounder sent back to Atlanta, makes sense as a reasonable middle ground.
However, for a deal to take place, Atlanta would need to reassess its stance on Bates, which remains the biggest hurdle. The Falcons may conclude that Bates is too valuable to trade until they have a clearer picture of their season, and the ESPN proposal is based on the idea that Atlanta might prefer to extract value from a player approaching free agency while also creating more opportunities for younger safety Xavier Watts, rather than risking the loss of Bates after the season without maximizing their return.
San Francisco should still pursue this opportunity because its roster situation is quite different, as Nick Bosa’s recovery has highlighted how much uncertainty can accompany even an elite defender returning from major surgery. The solution does not necessarily involve finding another edge rusher to replace what Bosa does, because enhancing the secondary can improve the entire pass defense by allowing the pass rush more time to reach the quarterback, reducing explosive completions, and enabling Morris to disguise coverages with a veteran who already understands the desired approach.
Bates stands out as a trade target due to his connection with Morris, especially as the regular season approaches, and a larger name does not automatically equate to a better trade target when Week 1 is just around the corner. A new player must enter a new locker room, learn a system, and contribute almost immediately, whereas Bates would already have a head start in all three areas and would join a defense that doesn’t rely on him to single-handedly rectify its issues.
Trading a third-round pick for a player on an expiring contract is an aggressive move, yet contenders must recognize the difference between protecting every future asset and utilizing one when the roster can genuinely benefit now. If Atlanta is open to discussing Bates at a price close to the one proposed, General Manager John Lynch should not wait for the regular season to reveal a weakness that could be addressed beforehand.
While Mac Jones might eventually be the 49er who gets moved if Tanner Rourke continues to develop, the trade San Francisco should target before Week 1 is in the opposite direction. Adding Jessie Bates III would provide Morris with a familiar elite-level safety, bolster a pass defense that needs improvement, and deliver an immediate upgrade that could prove far more valuable than the draft pick required to facilitate the trade.
The San Francisco 49ers are still addressing one of the major concerns surrounding their defense as Nick Bosa works his way back from a second ACL reconstruction on the same knee. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has indicated that Bosa’s recent absence is due to tendinitis and soreness, rather than a new structural injury.