Rich: What All-Pro S Jessie Bates Brings to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense

When a team spends real draft capital at the trade deadline, Rich reads it as a statement. They believe they are going for it. And Rich loved what Jacksonville just did.

The Jaguars acquired Jessie Bates III, and Rich did not hold back. "This guy is a backend thumper, a professional of professionals," he said.

What Rich likes most is the fit. Bates brings a sensibility to the back end of Jacksonville's defense that mirrors what the team already is: "physical, intelligent." He is somebody you can trust on game day not to make a mental mistake that costs you, or to take some silly 15-yard penalty. Rich was careful not to oversell it. He isn't saying Bates is perfect. But Bates has certainly helped Atlanta's back end.

That made the other side of the deal a little puzzling to Rich. He was somewhat surprised Atlanta made the move, since he thinks the Falcons can win their division. But he understands the logic. When somebody knocks on the door with a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick, that's hard to ignore. Bates is on an expiring deal, the studio noted, so he is going to walk anyway. And apparently Atlanta is eating most of the money left on his contract this year.

Rich played out the conversation. Atlanta gets a two because Jacksonville is cap-strapped. The Falcons will take the money on their own cap, but the Jaguars have to flip them a two. "And Jacksonville's like, sold," Rich said. "Okay, let's go." He also allowed that the Falcons might have a young player waiting behind Bates that the team likes, while admitting he shouldn't say those things without knowing.

The bigger picture is why Jacksonville did it. A team with a stretch run in mind is going to need a safety to help stop the run or cover a tight end. Rich didn't have to look far for the likely opponents. "Who's got a terrific run game and a terrific tight end?" he asked. "A team in Kansas City that you might have to see at some point to try and get past, or Buffalo."

His verdict: the Jaguars are "loading up for the big stretch run. I love it."