NFL Trade Rumors: Minnesota Vikings chosen for $50M Atlanta Falcons safety

FanSided’s Wynston Wilcox reports that Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, who is in the final year of his contract, could be a trade option for the Minnesota Vikings.He carries a 2026 cap hit of $13M. Minnesota recently signed Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on a veteran minimum contract, which leaves them with enough cap space to accommodate an upgrade in the secondary.

But Wilcox calls Bates expensive. Spotrac’s calculated market value projects the 29-year-old safety to a three-year contract worth $50M, which gives him an average annual income of $16M. The Wake Forest alum could be worth it, considering the Vikings feel they’re a quarterback away from being Super Bowl contenders.

Falcons safety Jessie Bates III projected as trade option for Vikings

Bates did not flourish much in Atlanta after leaving Cincinnati in 2022. And he hasn’t been impactful in the Falcons, either.

Now, because of the cap hit he carries this year, Wilcox doubts if he’ll ever be back to an impactful performance. However, there’s a solution for him and his new team, the Vikings.Wilcox calls it a gamble, but it would be worth trying given the win-win scenario it offers. So, Minnesota can trade for Bates from Atlanta and also draft Harrison Smith’s successor. This would create a lethal safety duo for the Vikings, and Bates would end up with a team that is more of a Super Bowl contender than his previous franchise.

Atlanta safety traded to Minnesota as veteran presence for Dillon Thieneman

The Vikings need a successor for their longtime veteran safety Harrison Smith. Smith was released this offseason. They are already in talks of acquiring Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman as their 18th overall pick. But to acclimatize the rookie, they may need a veteran presence. And that veteran could be Bates [just speculation]. Anyhow, it doesn’t look like the Falcons are ready to give up on him just yet.Falcons Wire’s Matt Urben reports Atlanta has not made any changes at safety, and starters Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts will be back in 2026. The Athletic’s Josh Kendall also reports the Falcons are set at safety with Bates and Watts in the starting roles, although the veteran is entering the final year of his contract.

Atlanta S Jessie Bates III stats and contract projection

NFL Network’s Scott Smith calls Bates the Iron Man at safety. He has not missed a single game since he joined Atlanta in 2023. In his eight-year career, he only sat out three. He recorded 3,320 defensive snaps in 51 regular-season games.He has accumulated 810 total tackles [534 solo], 1.0 sack, 11 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 27 interceptions, and 70 passes defended in 130 games played in five seasons for the Bengals and three for the Falcons. According to Spotrac, Bates is projected to sign a three-year contract worth $50M, which gives him an average annual salary of $16.7M. His total career earnings over eight years are $70M.Would he be a trade option for the Vikings, especially with Harrison Smith’s farewell and Dillon Thieneman as rookie? Remains to be seen…