The Bears on Monday bolstered their offensive line by agreeing to terms on a trade with the Bills that brings offensive lineman Ryan Bates to Chicago in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick.
The trade cannot become official until the new league year begins at 3 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, March 13, and after Bates passes a physical.
Bates, 27, has appeared in 73 regular-season games with 19 starts through five seasons in Buffalo. He has also played in nine playoff games during his career with four starts.
The Penn State product went undrafted in 2019. The 6-4, 302-pounder signed with the Eagles in May before being traded to the Bills in August.
Bates made his first career start in Week 4 of the 2021 season and started the team's last five games, including two playoff contests. In 2022, he started all 17 games he appeared in, including two playoff contests. In 2023, he appeared in all 17 of Buffalo's regular-season games and both of the Bills' playoff games.
The Bears attempted to acquire Bates in March 2022, signing the restricted free agent to a four-year offer sheet. But the Bills matched the offer.
