Bears trade for Bills’ Bates

The Bears have traded for Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Ryan Bates in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick, the team announced Monday.

The Bears tried to sign Bates two years ago when he was a restricted free agent. The Bills had the rights to match any offer Bates received from another team, and they matched the four-year deal from the Bears.

Now, the Bears are flat out buying Bates from the Bills. The 27-year-old offensive lineman played in all 17 games on special teams last season, but did not start on the offensive line. Bates has experience at all the interior positions on the offensive line and could potentially fill the team’s hole at the center position.

The Bears released veteran interior lineman Cody Whitehair last month, and center Lucas Patrick is set to become a free agent. The only other center on the roster is Doug Kramer, who has not played a regular season snap in two years with the team. With Nate Davis and Teven Jenkins holding down the guard positions, Bates could be destined to become the Bears’ next center.

Bates has two more seasons on his current contract, which could keep him in Chicago through the 2025 season. Bates has appeared in 73 regular season games with 19 starts in five seasons with Buffalo. He also appeared in nine playoff games, starting five.