The deadline threatens for the Buffalo Bills to match the Chicago Bears’ offer page for restricted free agent attack lineman Ryan Bates. Buffalo went to the wire and officially fitted Chicago’s offer page. Unfortunately for Bears fans.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it’s a four-year contract for Bates, which means Chicago was ready to commit for the long term. Unfortunately for the Bears, they are still seeking help along the inside of the attacking line.
Bates, a restricted free agent, visited this off-season with the Bears, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Bates signed his offer statement from the Bears on March 24, giving the Bills five days to match Chicago’s offer.
That’s exactly what they did.
As you can imagine, Bears fans are pretty disappointed that they lost to Bates, who originally signed with Chicago and wanted to fill an important hole in the right guard. Now the Bears still have a lot of work to do on the offensive line for fullback Justin Fields.
I know how much Buffalo appreciates Ryan Bates. I was just hoping they would not be able to meet the financial demands. They made it work. Good teams do not leave good players away.
– DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) 28 March 2022
🤬🤬🤬🤬
VERY curious about the structure the #Put away put together here, but a 4-year contract makes sense from what I saw of Bates’ game – he’s a player, would have been a great asset going forward.
Instead, the Bears (again) seek help at the Olympics … https://t.co/67Hn6pfLkS
– Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) 28 March 2022
Unfortunately, it feels like Poland’s backup plan is choosing a player who has never played in the NFL, or choosing a veterinarian who is average / below. This is the risk you take when going for RFAs.
This Oline is legally worse than last season#Put away https://t.co/xWaQefv3Kn
– Jake (@ Jake_B30) 28 March 2022
Wow RIP my lmao.
Four years offer sheet on an RFA is quite interesting. Think it should be a pretty solid contract. Bills should regret not using the second round tender on Bates, but now they have signed him for 3 extra years https://t.co/5OEKcaOHet
– Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) 28 March 2022
The good news for #Put away fans it is solid proof that Poland is as good at identifying quality yet unmatched line talent as fans / media expected him to be. https://t.co/0RdUhNMhzs
– Tom Pappalardo (@Tom__Pappalardo) 28 March 2022
4 Year Deal tells you what the Bears thought about Bates.
Place IOL at the very top of the Bears Draft Needs. https://t.co/WvHwAGE586
– The Irish Bears Show (@IrishBearsShow) 28 March 2022
He’s a solid player … but kommon guys it was a tertiary move at best; #put away and poles did all the right things here, #bills had a chance to fit in and they have… .the end… in the draft and whatever wave of FA we are in https://t.co/1rnNS2wmB6
– sameer deshmukh (@ sameer5580) 28 March 2022
I personally am not in the camp to be patient with a decomposing market and limited concept capital.
I said it from the beginning- The focus had to be on the offense. It’s going to be hard to really improve this unit with this type of approach.
If you feel different, cool. I do not.
– Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) 28 March 2022
Sorry to all the Bears fans who are upset about missing that lineman you never heard of until last week.
That’s going to be okay.
– Adam Rank (@adamrank) 28 March 2022
