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• Updated Jun 20, 2026 at 3:43pm

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Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III ranks No. 4 on ESPN's list.

On Sunday Sept. 13, the Atlanta Falcons will open up the 2026 NFL season on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Before the season starts though, the Falcons are being urged to lock up a key cog on the defensive side of the ball.

Atlanta Falcons Urged to Extend Jessie Bates III Before 2026 NFL Season

GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 29: Jessie Bates III #3 of the Atlanta Falcons runs the ball to score a touchdown after intercepting a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In a recent article for ESPN, Aaron Schatz named one move that every team inthe NFL needs to make before the onset of the ’26 season and extending star safety Jessie Bates III was the task for New Orleans.

Bates, 29, has just one year remaining on his current contract, but he’s still capable of playing at an elite level, as he demonstrated by being named Second Team All-Pro for the third time in his career last season. In order to keep the secondary strong moving forward, Schatz thinks the Falcons should keep Bates around.

“Yes, the Falcons had an improved pass rush in 2025, but safety play was also a big reason Atlanta jumped to 12th in defensive DVOA. Bates was a second-team All-Pro with 98 combined tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble,” Schatz wrote.

“He will be 30 years old in 2027 and should still have a couple of good seasons left. Bates has said that he wants to finish his career with the Falcons, but the team has not started extension talks with him yet.”

This story will be updated.