Chicago Bears acquire Buffalo Bills' offensive guard Ryan Bates
The Chicago Bears have agreed to a trade with the Buffalo Bills that will be sending some additional interior offensive line help to Chicago. The Bears will be sending their 2024 fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for offensive lineman Ryan Bates. The Bears signed Bates to an offer sheet back in 2022, however […]
The Chicago Bears have agreed to a trade with the Buffalo Bills that will be sending some additional interior offensive line help to Chicago.
The Bears will be sending their 2024 fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for offensive lineman Ryan Bates.
The Bears signed Bates to an offer sheet back in 2022, however the Bills matched the deal for the restricted free agent at the time. Now, the Bears get their guy at a critical and much needed position.
Bates started all 15 games he played in Buffalo in 2022 but in 2023 he recorded zero starts however he appeared in all 17 games on special teams. Bates initially signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent from Penn State in 2019 but later was traded to the Bills prior to his rookie season.
Bates started 13 games at right guard and two games at center in 2022. Both positions were viewed as a high priority for the Bears this offseason and it'll be interesting to see where the team decides to put him.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bates allowed just one sack and 28 pressures during the 2022 season. His lone sack allowed came while playing right guard against the Green Bay Packers. At center, Bates allowed just five total pressures in two games.
The Bears dealt with a rotating door at both the center and guard positions throughout the 2023 season and the interior of the offensive line served as a constant issue up-front in pass protection. Nate Davis and Teven Jenkins rotated at right guard with Cody Whitehair rotating at left guard and center with Lucas Patrick.
The move proves that general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears' front office are serious are about building up the interior of the offensive line this offseason following all the struggles that occurred last season.
The trade will not become official until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 13 and after Bates passes his physical.
Bears search for an additional running back could come through the draft in a prospect who shined at the NFL Combine
He can add an entirely new dynamic on offense.
