The Atlanta Falcons have apparently decided to play for the future. A day after falling to the Cincinnati Bengals 34-17 in Madrid, the Falcons reportedly traded safety Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars for two draft picks, according to ESPN.

Jacksonville will give up a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in exchange for Bates.

The safety has a pretty lengthy history of success in the NFL. Though Bates has made just one Pro Bowl in his career, he's been selected to three All-Pro second teams. His most recent selection came last season, when he made 98 tackles for the Falcons.

Bates, 29, is having another excellent start in 2026. Through nine games, he's registered 60 tackles and three forced fumbles. He'll take those skills to an already-dominant Jaguars defense, which is allowing the second-fewest points per game.

It cost Jacksonville a heavy price, especially considering Bates is in the final year of his contract. Barring an extension, he'll be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.

But Jacksonville can sense the current roster has Super Bowl upside. Thanks to a tough defense and explosive offense, the Jaguars are 6-2 coming out of Week 9. While other AFC teams have been impressive, the Jaguars might have the best all-around team in the league. The addition of Bates should only help bolster that claim.

For the Falcons, the move signals the team will likely play for 2027. After Sunday's loss to the Bengals, the Falcons dropped to 3-6 on the season.

With the playoffs unlikely, the Falcons will start selling off any player who won't play a significant role with the team moving forward. Bates was the first — and could be the biggest — name traded as the team shifts its focus to the future.