The Chicago Bears have made a trade, but it’s not the one anybody expected. GM Ryan Poles sent a 5th round pick to the Buffalo Bills for interior offensive lineman Ryan Bates. Chicago tried to sign the veteran in 2022 when he was a restricted free agent, but Buffalo matched the offer. Poles clearly has eyes for the 27-year-old, believing he can be a big help to the Bears’ interior blocking. Perhaps they feel he is a worthy successor at center, which he does have experience playing.
With Nate Davis likely situated at right guard, it feels like Bates is destined to fill the center position. He played 135 snaps at that spot for Buffalo in 2022, allowing five pressures in 87 pass blocks. He is under contract for two more years at a highly affordable $8 million. It feels like this move is Poles’ temporary solution at center. He doesn’t want to spend big in free agency and doesn’t have a 2nd round pick in the draft. That makes finding one difficult. Bates is a tough, dependable blocker who can hold things down at a cheap price.
Ryan Poles may have gotten a tip from Ian Cunningham.
The Bears assistant GM was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019 when they signed Bates as an undrafted free agent. He wasn’t able to make their loaded roster at the time, but his success in Buffalo confirmed what they liked about him. That inside knowledge is likely what propelled the team to pursue him in 2022. The Bills replaced him last season with rookie 2nd round pick O’Cyrus Torrence, who allowed 46 pressures and three sacks. It was an unfortunate demotion for Bates, who had played well the previous year.
Either way, Ryan Poles is probably happy. The Bears’ interior offensive line has much-needed depth. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Bates becomes their starting center with the added versatility to play either of the guard spots as well. The only downside is this now puts them at only five picks in the upcoming draft, far below Poles’ usual preferences. It wouldn’t be a surprise if other moves are made in the coming weeks to push that number back up.
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@scott brs —
“I’m not going to.pretend I know what Poles is doing.”
Why not, “scott. .”? Ryan Poles does it, all of the time.
I want to believe just like any Bear fan does, but we need to keep reality in front of us. There are a lot of holes to fill. If there is a plan, it has to come together flawlessly to achieve anything more than a wild card berth. That’s not negative thinking, it’s just that no matter who is QB the adjustment and learning curve may not be the same as it was for Houston last year. The key is keep the QB1 upright, stop dropping balls that are catchable(offense and defense) and reduce penalties and turnovers. Keep in mind… Read more »
So now that we’re down to 5 picks what are the chances that the Bears trade back in the first round? Poles may have just shown us his hand. Too many holes to fill in a talented pool of draftees to go into it with only 5 picks. Trade back and stock up.
With Whitehair gone, who is going to block Ja’Tyre Carter?
I see your point, scott. Maybe a guy that can play all 3 interior spots is technically a starter because injuries are coming.