At the end of the day, Ryan Bates is very happy to be back with Bills

At the end of the day, Ryan Bates is very happy to be back with #Bills:

The Bills have Ryan Bates. It wasn’t always that simple.

After entering the NFL as a 2019 undrafted rookie and being traded to Buffalo, Bates eventually became a restricted free agent this offseason. Per league rules, Bates was able to, and did, sign an offer sheet with the Chicago Bears.

Those same laws allowed the Bills to match that and Bates is back.

While thankful for the Bears, Bates said he’s glad to be back in Buffalo and admitted being a restricted free agent is a one-of-a-kind thing.

“The process was different,” Bates said. “At the end of the day, very happy to still be in Buffalo. Those guys–These are my guys, I didn’t want to leave them.”

Buffalo showed their faith in re-signing Bates. It’s worth noting that comes after not seeing much of him.

Sure, the Bills got plenty of insight on his skills via practice. However, he only has made four starts in his NFL career. All of those came just last season.

Not to mention, the Bills are hoping to have a better offensive line in 2022. Bates will play a big part in that as the projected starter at right guard.

No pressure.

Sean McDermott thinks Bates can handle that, though. The coach referenced the 25-year-old’s steady approach as a reason why the team believed in him.

“He’s always been a pretty consistent person off the field, consistent on the field and I think that really goes to his dependability. I think his teammates see that and his coaches see it as well,” McDermott said via video conference. “It’s really who he is so I haven’t seen much of a change at all.”

For more from Bates on re-signing in Buffalo, see the clip from his training camp interview via WIVB-TV below:

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbw1j59gmjw5gdj player_id=none image=https://billswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-related id=103753,103747,103739]