As Ryan Bates himself described it, it had been “a very long two weeks” before re-signing with the Buffalo Bills.
But in the end, what he always wanted, happened.
As a restricted free agent, Bates was tendered by the Bills. That doesn’t guarantee he would be back in Buffalo, though.
At that point, Bates could then go talk to other teams and potentially sign a contract offer, which he did, with the Chicago Bears. The Bills had a chance to match that figure and they did and Bates is officially back.
Despite signing with the Bears, Bates said his heart was still in Buffalo the whole time. He said he expressed that to Bills general manger Brandon Beane at the end of the 2021 season.
“I told Beane I wanted to be a Bill, I wanted to stay in Buffalo. Thankfully he came to the conclusion that I get to stay in Buffalo for the next four years,” Bates said via video conference.
It all worked out in the end for the 25-year-old. Still, he admitted it was a hard line to straddle.
He wanted to stay–but Bates had a contract and pay day he felt obligated to accept.
“You’re torn, torn is the right way to put it. It’s an unbelievable opportunity, a lot of life-changing money. It’s something you can’t really turn down,” Bates said.
“It meant a lot,” Bates added on the Bills matching the offer. “I get an opportunity to come back here and compete for a Super Bowl.”
Bates did not comment on whether or not he will have a starting spot next season. Potentially because of that, he also said he still plans to work every day like he’s the undrafted rookie free agent that he was to start his career–even with his new contract.
“Even though I might get paid more money, I’m still grinding. As an undrafted free agent the first three years–in the NFL, you’re undrafted until you prove otherwise,” Bates said. “I’m not going to change my mentality on how I attack every day.”
While continuing to do that, Bates did say he will with a bit more confidence. He signed with Chicago but also said the New England Patriots reached out to him as well.
That would make anyone feel good.
“I kind of felt like a high school player getting recruited to college,” Bates said.
Even with uncertainly with playing time ahead, the Bills have long liked Bates.
They originally traded for him during his rookie year because he was versality. To this day, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott says it’s a reason why he covets him.
“Ryan is a really good player and a really good person. He’s meant a lot to our football team, whether he was in a backup role or a starting role–He’s been a valuable piece to our team,” McDermott said at the NFL owner’s meetings.
On paper, it looks like Bates will battle Ike Boettger and Rodger Saffold for starting time at both guard spots this summer ahead of 2022.
Boettger was re-signed by the team like Bates while Saffold joined the Bills as a free agent via a one-year deal.
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