How Ryan Bates trade might impact Bears’ free agency plans originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Bears’ Monday night trade for veteran offensive lineman Ryan Bates didn’t send shockwaves through the league, but the move could shift how general manager Ryan Poles chooses to attack free agency in a week.
The Bears entered the offseason with a glaring need at center. While most expected them to go hunting for a pricey veteran (Lloyd Cushenberry) in free agency, Bates allows the Bears the flexibility to allocate their salary cap space in different ways. Bates has experience playing at all three interior offensive line spots and gives the Bears a $4 million per year veteran center to rely on for the next two seasons.
While the most optimal scenario would be for the Bears to add a starting center and make Bates a swing interior option, it appears the Bears’ likely path is to have Bates start at center and fill in their depth behind him.
Checking the center box with the $4 million per year Bates will allow Poles to allocate the Bears’ $44 million in effective cap space to other positions rather than earmarking $9-12 million for a center.
That gives the Bears some options as far as big names, or at least notable names, they could target.
The Bears need wide receiver help. Yes, they will likely draft a receiver, but they have no depth behind DJ Moore and are expected to be in the market for a veteran No. 2 or No. 3, based on the buzz at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
Tyler Boyd or Gabe Davis could be an option, or the Poles could potentially pay a bit more for Calvin Ridley to ensure the Bears have the necessary complement to Moore.
Safety and running back are also a need, with New York Giants stars Xavier McKinney and Saquon Barkley topping the market.
The Bears still believe in Roschon Johnson, but they need another back who can be relied on in pass protection and as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Barkey would give them that, but is Poles interested in paying…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-bates-trade-might-impact-174839459.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-03-06 17:48:39
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