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.
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