The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms on a trade with the Buffalo Bills to acquire offensive lineman Ryan Bates, the team announced Monday.
Chicago is sending a 2024 fifth-round pick to Buffalo in exchange.
The Bears signed Bates to an offer sheet back in March 2022 when he was a restricted free agent, but the Bills matched giving Bates a four-year, $17 million contract. Now, general manager Ryan Poles gets his guy.
Bates, 27, has appeared in 73 games, including 19 starts, in five seasons with the Bills. Bates appeared in 17 regular-season games in 2023, but he didn’t have any starts. He played just 35 offensive snaps, all coming at center.
During the 2022 season, Bates started all 15 regular-season games he appeared in, playing 947 snaps, primarily at right guard (810) and some at center (137).
The addition of Bates addresses a gaping hole at center with Lucas Patrick and Dan Feeney hitting free agency.
The trade will not be official until the start of the new league year on March 13 at 3 p.m. CT and until Bates passes a physical.