The Chicago Bears have traded one of their 2024 draft picks. No, not that one.
The Buffalo Bills announced Monday night that they have acquired Chicago’s fifth-round pick in this year’s draft in exchange for veteran offensive lineman Ryan Bates.
The trade will become official when the new NFL league year opens next Wednesday, March 13. Chicago had previously signed Bates, then a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet in 2022, but the Bills matched it and eventually signed the interior lineman to a four-year, $17 million contract.
Bates, 27, originally signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State in 2019. That summer, he was traded to the Bills in exchange for linebacker Eli Harold.
After appearing in 24 games off the bench and on special teams in his first two seasons, Bates made four starts and played in all 17 games in 2021. In 2022, he made 15 starts before appearing in 17 games in a reserve role this past season.
Bates has experience at guard and center, but has predominantly played the former in the NFL. With the trade, the Bills now have 10 picks, including three in fifth-rounders, in this year’s draft.
The Bears, meanwhile, only have five selections and none after the fourth round, but own two of the first nine picks in the draft, including the coveted No. 1 overall spot.