REPORT: Ryan Poles Has Traded For More Offensive Line Help

The Chicago Bears have made a trade, but it's not the one anybody expected. GM Ryan Poles sent a 5th round pick to the Buffalo Bills for interior offensive lineman Ryan Bates. Chicago tried to sign the veteran in 2022 when he was a restricted free agent, but Buffalo matched the offer. Poles clearly has eyes for the 27-year-old, believing he can be a big help to the Bears' interior blocking. Perhaps they feel he is a worthy successor at center, which he does have experience playing.

With Nate Davis likely situated at right guard, it feels like Bates is destined to fill the center position. He played 135 snaps at that spot for Buffalo in 2022, allowing five pressures in 87 pass blocks. He is under contract for two more years at a highly affordable $8 million. It feels like this move is Poles' temporary solution at center. He doesn't want to spend big in free agency and doesn't have a 2nd round pick in the draft. That makes finding one difficult. Bates is a tough, dependable blocker who can hold things down at a cheap price.

Ryan Poles may have gotten a tip from Ian Cunningham.

The Bears assistant GM was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019 when they signed Bates as an undrafted free agent. He wasn't able to make their loaded roster at the time, but his success in Buffalo confirmed what they liked about him. That inside knowledge is likely what propelled the team to pursue him in 2022. The Bills replaced him last season with rookie 2nd round pick O'Cyrus Torrence, who allowed 46 pressures and three sacks. It was an unfortunate demotion for Bates, who had played well the previous year.

Either way, Ryan Poles is probably happy. The Bears' interior offensive line has much-needed depth. It wouldn't be a surprise if Bates becomes their starting center with the added versatility to play either of the guard spots as well. The only downside is this now puts them at only five picks in the upcoming draft, far below Poles' usual preferences. It wouldn't be a surprise if other moves are made in the coming weeks to push that number back up.