The Chicago Bears may have just secured their primary center for the upcoming 2024 season. On March 4, the team announced that they had struck a deal with the Buffalo Bills to trade their 2024 fifth-round pick for experienced interior lineman, Ryan Bates. This agreement won’t be finalized until the start of the new league year on March 13 and is subject to Bates passing a physical.
Bates spent the previous season as the backup to veteran center Mitch Morse and first-round rookie guard O’Cyrus Torrence at the Bills. Despite being a reserve, the 27-year-old has been a consistent presence in their interior rotation over the past three years. His performance has been solid, allowing only one sack and eight quarterback hits in his 1,434 career snaps, while playing multiple positions including right guard, left guard, and center.
Interestingly, the Bears had attempted to acquire Bates during Ryan Poles’ first offseason as general manager in 2022. However, the player was a restricted free agent at the time, and although they signed him to a four-year offer sheet, the Bills matched their offer and Bates remained with their team on a $17 million deal.
Now, two years later, the Bears have finally landed Bates on their roster, giving him a potential opportunity to compete for the starting center position in the upcoming 2024 season. With Lucas Patrick becoming a free agent and Cody Whitehair no longer on the team, the Bears were in dire need of a new center. Currently, Bates and Doug Kramer are the only centers on their roster.
By adding Bates to their team, the Bears have secured his services for the next two years. He will account for $4 million against the salary cap in both 2024 and 2025, providing the team with approximately $63 million in effective cap space as they head into the start of NFL free agency on March 13.
In 2024, the Bears have set their sights on acquiring Bates as their starting center, a bold move to address a pressing roster weakness. While Bates has been a reliable performer for the Bills, the majority of his career snaps have been at other positions. Despite this, the Bears have shown confidence in his abilities, evidenced by their renewed interest in him after their initial attempt to acquire him two years ago. It remains to be seen if he will serve as a versatile backup or a starting center, but either way, the trade is not a mistake. With offensive line depth being a concern for the Bears in recent years, acquiring Bates can prove to be a valuable addition for the growth of their offense, especially if their starting guards miss time again in 2023. Another advantage of having Bates on the team is his veteran experience, which can benefit a potential rookie quarterback, like projected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams from USC, in making the transition to the NFL smoother.
