The 49ers already have a roster that looks pretty sturdy for the coming season, but there’s still a clear place where they could stand to level up: safety.
Malik Mustapha showed plenty last year, and Ji’Ayir Brown still carries upside, but ESPN’s Seth Walder thinks San Francisco could use a more established presence on the back end. His idea is a big one - send a 2027 third-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons and bring in Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III.
"49ers receive: S Jessie Bates III, 2028 sixth-round pick. Falcons receive: 2027 third-round pick," Walder proposed.
It’s the kind of move that would instantly change the look of the 49ers’ secondary. Bates would be a clear upgrade at safety, and he could also help a defense that needs to get sharper for the 2026 season with Raheem Morris, who could reunite with Bates after their time together in Atlanta.
Walder also pointed out that Bates is set to make $13 million this upcoming season, a number he called a "below-market" deal for a player of his caliber.
The 29-year-old played all 17 games for Atlanta last season and finished with three interceptions, including a pick-six, six passes defended, 98 tackles and a 73.7 passer rating allowed. He’s now up to 27 interceptions in his career and has picked off at least three passes in each of the last four seasons.
From San Francisco’s perspective, the price is the real issue. A third-round pick is steep for a player who would be a rental, since Bates is headed for free agency after the season. On the other hand, the deal would also send the 49ers a 2028 sixth-round pick, and Walder noted they could also end up with a compensatory pick in 2028.
It’s an appealing idea on paper. The bigger question is whether the 49ers want to keep pushing in more chips for this season, especially with some injury concerns already hanging over the year.
In Other News...
Jessie Bates Absence Just Raised A Bigger Question For Falcons Fans
Jessie Bates has not been a fixture at recent Falcons training camp sessions, and the silence around his absence has only added to the sense that something more than a routine summer update could be in play. Atlanta is still in a rebuilding phase and has to keep one eye on the cap, which is why every missing veteran draws a little more attention than usual this time of year.
ESPNs Seth Walder recently raised the possibility of Bates becoming a trade candidate, pointing to the 49ers as a logical fit if Atlanta ever decided to move him. San Franciscos defense is now guided by former Falcons coach Raheem Morris, which only makes the idea more interesting from Atlantas perspective, even if there is still no clear answer on whether Bates absence is tied to injury or contract negotiations. [Read more 🡒]
Bralen Trice Is Giving Falcons Fans A Reason To Watch Camp
Bralen Trice has spent nearly two years in rehab instead of on an NFL field, so his first extended run with Falcons training camp reps is drawing attention for obvious reasons. The third-year edge rusher has yet to appear in a regular-season game after tearing an ACL in his rookie preseason and then dealing with another knee injury in 2025, but he is back in camp and taking first-team snaps while working his way into the mix.
For Atlanta, the appeal is easy to see. The Falcons already have established pass rushers in place, and the plan is to use Trice in a rotational role rather than rush him into a bigger burden. Even so, a healthy and confident Trice gives the staff another potential piece off the edge, and it gives fans a more interesting camp storyline than the usual summer checklist of who is simply making it through practice. [Read more 🡒]