After signing Ryan Bates to an offer sheet back in 2022, the Bears have finally got their guy. The team announced that they’ve acquired the offensive lineman in a trade with the Bills. Chicago will be sending Buffalo a 2024 fifth-round pick. Pending a physical, the deal will become official on March 13. Buffalo will designate this a standard – rather than post-June 1 – move, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia.
The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Penn State has spent the majority of his professional career in Buffalo, appearing in 73 games across five seasons. Bates served primarily as a backup/special teamer through his first two seasons in the NFL, but following a 2021 campaign where he got into about 25 percent of his team’s offensive snaps, the guard/center became a popular name in restricted free agency.
After being slapped with the restricted free agent tender, Bates found a suitor in the Bears, who inked the lineman to an offer sheet. The Bills ultimately matched the offer, signing Bates to a new four-year, $17MM deal.
Bates quickly helped validate Buffalo’s decision. He started all 15 of his appearances for the Bills in 2022, with Pro Football Focus ultimately grading him as a middle-of-the-road lineman. However, he found himself back on the bench this past season. With center Mitch Morse, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, and left guard Connor McGovern not missing a start, Bates was limited to a career-low 35 offensive snaps.
The 27-year-old was destined for a backup role once again in 2024, and with a $5.5MM cap hit, it seemed unlikely the Bills would keep him around. Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News points out that Bates also wanted to start, and he’ll likely have that opportunity in Chicago.
Bates’ ability to play all over the offensive line should afford him a role in Chicago. For the time being, he’ll likely be the assumed starter at center with Lucas Patrick hitting unrestricted free agency.
I don’t know the compensation, but I already hate this.
Sorry, A fifth? Hate this more.
I know the Bears liked him before but I forget is he a G or C? Or can he do both. There’s no page on him. Oh it says in the article. My bad. Reading is a skill. A G-C is worth the 5th round pick.
He can play all five positions.
Is Bates a starting calibre center?
Right now he is for the Bears. Hopefully the Bears sign another starting C. There should be a couple available and the Bears have enough money to get a good one. Depending on what happens at Edge, WR, TE and S.
I understand the cap crunch but Bates was the perfect 6th lineman. Unfortunately for him that meant he didn’t play. Hopefully we did something with his contract otherwise I think his dead Cap accelerates and we only save $1.4M.
I gotta think with 11 picks? Beane is trading up multiple times.
I sure hope you’re right. Go get your guys. IMO while free agency well change things (assuming we spend any money) we MUST come out of this with: at least 1 if not 2 WRs, safeties, and DTs. Then add another edge rusher. I’d like a C (Beaux Limmer from Arkansas anyone?) and RB (late though-reuniting Jimbo with Kendall Milton from UGA?).
While the Bills will have holes, they likely won’t have room on the 53-man roster for 11 draft picks and they cannot be protected on the practice squad. Expect a couple of moves come draft day to improve their position and get better-fit prospects
I’m sure Eric Washington’s hiring helped the Bears with this decision. Also allows the Bills to draft a replacement and save cap space.
Seeing that the Bills are the worst in cap space, -$40M, they need all the help they can get.
Poles gets his original target Bates to replace Lucas Patrick, a strong upgrade that saves $1M per year. Given the supposed weakness of this draft’s day 3 depth, it’s a great use of a 5th rounder.
Agreed. Even if he ends up not starting, they needed back up depth along the line. I’ll bet Poles still drafts or signs another center before it’s all said and done.
The Bears needed O lineman that are versatile. Why I suggested trading down 1, Drafting Harrison, Then drafting a guy like Fashanau who can play OT and G makes the Bears a much better team than drafting a QB now and having to wait until next year to get him more pieces he needs. You weren’t getting a guy like Bates in the 5th round so I applaud the move. What Poles really needs to do is undo his mistake and trade that slug Davis. He is horrible. His whiny I can only play RG crap and is forcing Jenkins to play out of position. Getting a legit starting C, adding Bates and Fashanau makes the Bears an excellent OL for a change. Jones, Fashanau and Wright at OT and Jenkins, Fashanau and Bates at G and a starting C and Bates makes them versatile and bigger. With Harrison and Moore and Scott?, They have a start at WR and can add some pieces in FA or with the extra picks they’d get. What I’ve been preaching all along.
I’m not sold on a GM of a rebuilding team (Yes the Bears are still rebuilding) to be trading away all of these picks. I hope it works out for them, but it feels like Poles is now trying to force things instead of trying to remain on some sort of plan especially since its more and more likely that the Bears are drafting Williams and not trading down for more picks (which I think would still make far more sense to ensure you build a team of quality players WITH depth as well, which they are lacking everywhere except the secondary).
When Poles first took over he tried plugging some of these holes with a waiver reject from the Raiders and some other inexpensive low grade free agents. That approach really isn’t going to move the needle at all. Trading away mid round picks has a slightly better chance of succeeding but the Bears will eventually have to score a bonanza with high round picks if they want to be an elite team again.
The Bears aren’t my team and I know they won’t do this due to the pressure to draft a QB with top picks, but I think they could regret trading away Fields and passing on Marvin Harrison Jr. When the Jets had the #2 pick, I wanted them to keep Darnold and pick Sewell. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and it has worked out well for the Lions. The Cards will probably get MHJ.
How were they able to trade now if the new league year starts next week?
The trade cannot become OFFICIAL until the new league year begins March 13, and after Bates passes a physical