Heads up! The 2026 NFL Trade Deadline is coming at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Locally, the Chicago Bears have already made their big move by trading for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. But they could still look to add more. And I think the Atlanta Falcons’ trade on Monday morning should spark some thoughts around Halas Hall.
While working through Monday’s BN Bears Bullets, the Falcons and Jaguars agreed on a trade that sends safety Jessie Bates from Atlanta to Jacksonville. In exchange for sending Bates to the Jags, the Falcons are receiving a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder. Bates, 29, was a Pro Bowler for the Falcons in 2023. The nine-year vet has been a solid defender in the secondary since entering the league as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He has played 139 games, come up with 28 interceptions, and forced 14 fumbles. Joining a Jacksonville team that is 6-2 and atop the AFC South makes the Jaguars a tougher matchup.
BEARS WIN ON SNF! Instant Player Grades | Back on the Horse | ‘Good, Better, Best!’
And for Bears fans, that is notable because Chicago hosts Jacksonville in Week 13. That game is currently scheduled for a noon CT start at Soldier Field. But given how well both teams have been playing to this point of the season, it wouldn’t surprise me to see that game flexed into the late afternoon window or even Sunday Night Football.
Oct 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (center) reacts after causing a fumble against the San Francisco 49ers late in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesJessie Bates Deal Could Create a New Trade Partner For Bears
The first thought I had when I saw the Jessie Bates trade news was that it makes the Bears’ Week 13 opponent a more difficult matchup. That game against the Jaguars was already marked on my calendar because of the quarterback matchup between Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence. Those two are the best college QB prospects to go first overall in their respective NFL Draft classes in this generation. Seeing them square off should be a treat.
But the second place my mind went to was to question if the Falcons made sense as a Bears trade partner. Atlanta is 3-6 and in last place in the NFC South. On its own, you’d think that would make them obvious sellers. However, no team in that division has more than three wins after nine weeks of football. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are both 3-5, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons both sit with 3-6 records.
No one is really out of it, which is why I hesitate to consider Atlanta to be a full-blown seller. That said, trading away a player like Bates seems to indicate that the Falcons could be sellers. Still, with the division being this bunched up, I can’t bring myself to say they’re out of it. But if the Falcons are selling, then Bears General Manager Ryan Poles should make a call to his former college quarterback (and current Falcons President of Football) Matt Ryan, his former chief lieutenant Ian Cunningham, or whoever the NFL deems is running the show in Atlanta.
(Aside: Yeah, I’m still bitter about the Bears getting hosed on compensatory draft picks while losing the second-highest-ranking member of their front office.)
Oct 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles reacts prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn ImagesHere are three potential cornerback trade candidates the Bears could target if the Falcons are indeed open for business:
C.J. Henderson — Henderson, 28, is set to be a free agent after this season. That makes him an ideal target for a Bears defense that should be targeting short-term help. Henderson has plenty of experience with the Jaguars (10 games, 2020-21), Panthers (39 games, 2021-23), and Falcons (12 games, 2025-present). Pro Football Focus has Henderson as the Falcons’ best cornerback and the 20th-highest-graded player among the 104 cornerss on the NFL leaderboard. In addition to being respectable in coverage, Henderson has an 80.4 run-defense grade that ranks as the 13th-best at the position. I’m always down to see this team add defensive backs who are willing to play run defense. Mike Hughes — Hughes is more of a slot cornerback, which isn’t necessarily what the Bears need right now. But an injury taking Kyler Gordon off the field for a few snaps reminded me of how fragile the secondary can be in the blink of an eye. I’m open to any and all potential help in the secondary. A.J. Terrell — Terrell has two years remaining on a four-year extension that features cap hits of $27.5 million in 2027 and $29.5 million in 2028. That alone probably pushes him off the radar. And I would be OK with that because I need the Bears to be wise with their cap space moving forward. But if the Falcons conduct a fire sale, having him out there on the market could impact the rest of the market. Hence, he gets a mention in this post.Again, I’m not sure if Atlanta will go into full sell mode. This division appears winnable so long as you don’t bottom out. But getting a nice trade haul in return for Bates opens the door for conversations to be had between Atlanta and teams around the league that consider themselves to be buyers. I hope the Bears are a team that walks through it and kicks the tires on a cornerback with an expiring contract if the Falcons are willing to talk shop.
CHECK OUT THE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
Hence then, the article about the falcons sending pro bowl safety jessie bates to the jaguars has me thinking about the bears next move was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Falcons Sending Pro Bowl Safety Jessie Bates to the Jaguars Has Me Thinking About the Bears’ Next Move )
Also on site :
- Dianna Russini opens up on ‘nightmare’ affair scandal for first time
- Bills vs Vikings Odds: Spread, Picks, and More for Monday Night Football
- Russell explains pitlane spin that nearly ruined his Sao Paulo GP