Tag: Ryan Bates

Report: Bears intend to sign Bills’ RFA Ryan Bates to offer sheet

Report: #Bears intend to sign #Bills’ RFA Ryan Bates to offer sheet:

The Buffalo Bills reportedly have a decision to make coming their way.

Last week, the Bills placed an original round tender of $2.4 million on one of their restricted free agents, Ryan Bates. In doing so, Bates becomes a semi free agent.

Placing a tender on a RFA means the player can then go on to speak with other teams. If the player then signs an offer from another club, Buffalo would then have an opportunity to match that deal and keep the player–Bates in this case.

Enter the Chicago Bears, one of a few teams connected to Bates.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears will sign Bates to an offer sheet:

Bates, 25, has been a key depth piece along Buffalo’s offense line for a few years since being acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019. That deal originally mostly had to do with his versatility to play every position on the offensive line, something the Bills still covet.

In 2021, Bates finally got his first dose of starting time.

In Week 15, he began starting at left guard for Buffalo. Even when former starter Jon Feliciano returned to full health, Bates still held onto the job into the playoffs.

The Bills did appear to be very impressed with Bates, as general manager Brandon Beane praised Bates at his end of season press conference. Specifically, Beane said Bates brought the best out of left tackle Dion Dawkins.

However, now things have changed a bit in that area.

Rodger Saffold signed with Buffalo during free agency and he indicated that he is slated to play at left guard. Bates could be a candidate to play at right guard, but what this situation will easily come down to is dollars.

The Bills will have five days from Bates’ signing of the offer sheet to decided whether or not they will match it.

Currently there is report on the finances for Chicago’s offer to Bates.

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Report: OL Ryan Bates intends to sign offer sheet from Bears

RFA offensive lineman Ryan Bates intends to sign an offer sheet from the Bears, which gives the Bills five days to match the contract.

The Chicago Bears are looking to overhaul the offensive line this offseason to protect quarterback Justin Fields. They already made one move to lock down a center in Lucas Patrick. Now, it sounds like they’re close to landing another starter.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, restricted free agent Ryan Bates intends to sign an offer sheet from the Bears. Bates has been with the Buffalo Bills since 2019, where he became an integral part of their offensive line since 2020.

Bates has been in high demand, where he’s had visits with the Bears, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings over the last week. But given Bates is a restricted free agent, the Bills have five days to match the contract Chicago is offering Bates.

Bates, 25, was an undrafted free agent by the Eagles in 2019 before being traded to Buffalo later that season. As a rookie, he appeared in just eight games. But he’s been a two-year starter in the years that followed, where he’s played at both left and right guard.

Buffalo offered Bates an original round tender of $2.4 million, which means they can match any contract offer by the Bears or other teams interested in his services, per RFA rules.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bills won’t be eligible for draft-pick compensation if they don’t march Chicago’s offer, as Buffalo gave him the low tender.

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OL Ryan Bates to meet with Bears on Tuesday

The Bears are hosting Ryan Bates on Tuesday, and they have a chance to add a young interior lineman to their roster. If the price is right.

The Chicago Bears are hosting offensive lineman Ryan Bates at Halas Hall on Tuesday, where they could strengthen their offensive line with his addition.

Bates, 25, was an undrafted free agent by the Eagles in 2019 before being traded to Buffalo later that season. As a rookie, he appeared in just eight games. But he’s been a two-year starter in the years that followed, where he’s played at both left and right guard.

As you can imagine, a young offensive lineman with starting experience like Bates is in high demand. He’s visited with the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings last week.

While the alignment of Chicago’s offensive line remains a question, right now there’s a hole at right guard. And Bates would be a fantastic grab for general manager Ryan Poles.

But it’s easier said than done with restricted free agents. Not only would the Bears have to offer more than the Vikings and Patriots (if they did make an offer), but they’d have to make an offer the Bills would have to refuse.

Buffalo offered Bates an original round tender of $2.4 million, which means they can match any contract offer by the Bears or other teams interested in his services, per RFA rules.

Bates doesn’t have any other known meetings set up, at this time, which means the Bears have a chance to lock Bates down with an offer that the Bills won’t be willing to match.

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Bears to host OL Ryan Bates this week

The Bears don’t appear done addressing the offensive line in free agency as they’re expected to host OL Ryan Bates this week.

The Chicago Bears don’t appear to be done addressing the offensive line through the first wave of free agency as they’re set to host Buffalo Bills restricted free agent Ryan Bates this week, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Bates, an undrafted free agent by the Eagles in 2019, was traded to Buffalo later that season. As a rookie, he appeared in just eight games. But he’s been a two-year starter in the years that followed, where he’s played at both left and right guard.

While there are questions about where certain linemen will line up on Chicago’s offensive line, right now the Bears have a hole at right guard. And it’s a hole that Bates would fill.

But Bates has drawn plenty of interest outside of Chicago. He’s already met with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots before heading to Lake Forest sometime this week.

Not to mention, the Bills offered Bates an original round tender of $2.4 million, which means they can match any contract offer by the Bears or other teams interested in his services, per RFA rules.

Last week, the Bears signed offensive lineman Lucas Patrick to a two-year deal, where he’ll serve as the starting center. Given his experience with new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in Green Bay, Patrick will be able to help his teammates learn the new system.

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Report: Bills RFA Ryan Bates has meetings with three teams

Report: #Bills RFA Ryan Bates has meetings with three teams:

The Buffalo Bills picked up the restricted free agent tender on offensive lineman Ryan Bates.

But things are getting a bit murky.

The Bills offered an original round tender of $2.4 million to Bates.

As per the NFL’s RFA rules, Buffalo can match any contract sent Bates’ way after doing so. In terms of clubs that might do that, there are three to monitor.

According to Pro Football Network, Bates already had a meeting with the Minnesota Vikings over the weekend.

There are no reported offer sheet yet to be sent to Bates after that chat, however, he will continue his travels.

Reportedly Bates will also speak with the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots in the coming days.

Bates, 25, has been a key depth piece along Buffalo’s offense line for a few years since being acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019. That deal originally mostly had to do with his versatility to play every position on the offensive line, something the Bills still covet.

In 2021, Bates finally got his first dose of starting time.

In Week 15, he began starting at left guard for Buffalo. Even when former starter Jon Feliciano returned to full health, Bates still held onto the job into the playoffs.

The Bills did appear to be very impressed with Bates, as general manager Brandon Beane praised Bates at his end of season press conference. Specifically, Beane said Bates brought the best out of left tackle Dion Dawkins.

Pro Football Focus graded Bates out as the NFL’s 44th best guard overall last season when things were all said and done in 2021. That was higher than both Feliciano and Ike Boettger, who Bates replaced due to injury.

With Buffalo signing Rodger Saffold last week in free agency, Bates’ path to a starting spot with the Bills is less clear. Saffold indicated he would be starting at left guard for Buffalo next season.

But both Bates and Saffold have versatility to play all over the offensive line. If Bates were to return to the Bills, he and Saffold would likely be the favorites to start at the guard positions for the team in 2022.

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Report: Patriots showing interest in Bills RFA guard Ryan Bates

Ryan Bates is drawing interest from around the NFL. But the Patriots badly need help at guard.

The New England Patriots are showing interest in Buffalo Bills restricted guard agent guard Ryan Bates, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Saint Paul. Bates will likely meet with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium after spending time with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Bills placed a “right of first refusal” tender offer upon Bates, which means Buffalo can try to match any offer the other 31 teams make. Unlike other RFAs with draft-pick tender offers (like Jakobi Meyers), the Patriots would not owe Buffalo a draft pick if Bates signed in New England.

The 25-year-old guard started four games to finish out the 2021 season, and had an impressive game against the Patriots during their only playoff appearance last season. He was an undrafted free agent out of Penn State in 2019 and landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded him to the Bills during the course o the 2019 season.

The Patriots are in need of guard help after losing guard Ted Karras to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency and trading guard Shaq Mason to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Report: Buffalo Bills plan on tendering RFA Ryan Bates

Report: #Bills plan on tendering RFA Ryan Bates:

Attention has turned toward unrestricted free agency as the NFL’s “legal tampering period” has opened on Monday. One update tossed into the mix involves one of the Buffalo Bills’ restricted free agents.

Offensive lineman Ryan Bates will reportedly be tendered by the Bills.

He will be offered an original round tender of $2.4 million, according to WIVB-TV:

As per the NFL’s RFA rules, Buffalo can match any contract sent Bates’ way. Those can start to arrive on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the league’s “new year” officially begins.

Bates, 25, has been a key depth piece along Buffalo’s offense line for a few years since being acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019. That deal originally mostly had to do with his versatility to play every position on the offensive line, something the Bills still covet.

In 2021, Bates finally got his first dose of starting time.

In Week 15, he began starting at left guard for Buffalo. Even when former starter Jon Feliciano returned to full health, Bates still held onto the job into the playoffs.

The Bills did appear to be very impressed with Bates, as general manager Brandon Beane praised Bates at his end of season press conference. Specifically, Beane said Bates brought the best out of left tackle Dion Dawkins.

Pro Football Focus graded Bates out as the NFL’s 44th best guard overall last season when things were all said and done in 2021. That was higher than both Feliciano and Ike Boettger, who Bates replaced due to injury.

Also on Monday, Buffalo confirmed the signing of guard Rodger Saffold. The veteran Pro Bowler likely has the edge on Bates to start at left guard next season, however, Bates’ versatility might allow him to battle for playing time at right guard.

Along with Bates, defensive lineman Justin Zimmer is a restricted free agent.

It still remains to be seen if Bates does head back to Buffalo in 2022. The tender is a step toward that direction and Bills Wire will provide the latest updates as they become available.

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PFF top-101 players: Bills’ Dion Dawkins clocks in at No. 74

PFF top-101 players: #Bills’ Dion Dawkins clocks in at No. 74:

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins came on strong in the later stages of the 2021 NFL season, helping change the fortunes of his team’s play in the trenches.

Dawkins did so well in that role, he was highlighted in Pro Football Focus‘ top-101 players of 2021 list. Overall, the left tackle for the Bills landed at No. 74 on the list created by the football analytics outlet.

Here’s how PFF broke down Dawkins’ season:

74. T DION DAWKINS, BUFFALO BILLS
2021 Snaps: 1,156 | 2021 PFF Grade: 83.5

There were a couple of ugly games in his season, but Dawkins had an excellent year overall for the Bills, playing more than 1,000 snaps in the regular season for the fourth straight year. He allowed 28 pressures from almost 800 pass-blocking snaps when including the playoffs and posted the best pass-blocking grade (82.8) of his career.

PFF 101 Rank, 2020: 83

Digging deeper on Dawkins and PFF, the outlet specifically liked his game late in the year when the entire Buffalo O-line played better. Per their grading system, Dawkins was the best offensive tackle in football from Week 13 on.

The other impressive aspect about Dawkins has to do with the team. Signed to an extension through the 2024 season, Dawkins makes PFF’s top players list while being the 11th highest paid player at his position currently in the NFL. That’s a great deal for both sides.

Moving forward for Buffalo, Dawkins can be relied upon. It appears right tackle Spencer Brown can be, too.

The focus now shifts to improving the middle of the Bills’ offensive line. If the team can close that gap, it would push an offense led by quarterback Josh Allen to even higher levels.

A name to watch in the middle is Ryan Bates. He’s a restricted free agent and the Bills should be able to bring him back, but does he start? Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane did tout Bates, and in the process, credited his play with helping Dawkins thrive.

“I think Dion played some of his best football with Bates next to him,” Beane said.

Some interesting decisions to come for the Bills.

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Report card: 2021 season grades for Bills offense

Grades for the #Bills offense in 2021 were mostly good:

The 2021 NFL season is almost done and dusted with Super Bowl 56 just around the corner. The Buffalo Bills won’t take part, but it was a profitable season for the team nonetheless.

With that, here’s how Bills Wire graded the team’s offense in 2021:

2022 free agency: Full list of Bills players on expiring contracts

2022 free agency: Full list of #Bills players on expiring contracts:

Here is a full list of Buffalo Bills players who are slated to become free agents following the 2021 NFL season via Spotrac. 

The free agency period is set to begin March 14. All Bills players listed are unrestricted free agents (UFA) unless indicated otherwise: