Why Ryan Bates could be a steal for the Chicago Bears
Nearly two years after trying to sign Ryan Bates to an offer sheet and pry him away from the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles landed his guy.
The Bears agreed to trade a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for offensive lineman Ryan Bates on Monday night, and I love this trade.
The former Penn State tackle has a ton of upside, because of his versatility. Bates could be in line to be the starting center in 2024. The trade will be official at the start of the league year on March 13, pending a physical.
In March 2022, Poles’ first months on the job, he made the aggressive move to sign Bates then a restricted free agent to an offer sheet.
The Bills matched, and Bates re-signed with Buffalo.
Bates moves well, has played the position previously, and is more experienced than a rookie coming in. With Caleb Williams as the presumed No. 1 pick, having a veteran at center is a helpful addition and certainly an upgrade over Lucas Patrick.
Plus, he won’t cost the same as a top center in the open market! I think Ryan Bates will be a steal for the Bears!
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