The Jaguars trade for Jessie Bates III and Davon Godchaux a day before the deadline

The Jacksonville Jaguars filled both of their biggest defensive holes on Monday. They acquired safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, then landed defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints, a deal first reported by Tom Pelissero.

The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Why Jacksonville did it

Bates replaces Eric Murray, who will miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury. Godchaux steps in at nose tackle for DaVon Hamilton, who tore a quadriceps. Both starters went on injured reserve last week. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported that Jacksonville is sending New Orleans a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick that could become a 2027 sixth.

The run defense ranked first in the league before Hamilton got hurt in Week 8. In the first game without him, Thursday's 33-10 win at Baltimore, Jacksonville allowed a season-high 172 rushing yards, according to ESPN.

What the Jaguars are getting

Bates, 29, is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract and becomes a free agent in March. Schefter noted he has started all 60 possible games since signing with Atlanta in 2023, with 14 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in that stretch. He has 28 career interceptions and at least one in every season. Ian Rapoport reported that Atlanta is paying most of his remaining salary.

Godchaux, 31, played 12 snaps against Cleveland on Sunday and had been used mostly as a run stopper in New Orleans.

The 6-2 Jaguars lead the AFC South by three games and play at Tennessee on Sunday. Atlanta, 3-6 after Sunday's loss to Cincinnati in Madrid, gets more draft capital for a new front office that will have the most cap space in the league next spring.