The Chicago Bears have reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills to acquire offensive lineman Ryan Bates in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. However, the trade is not yet official and is contingent upon the start of the new league year and Bates passing a physical examination.
The addition of Bates provides the Bears with additional depth along the interior offensive line. Bates has played in 73 games, starting 19 of them, and has primarily played at right guard and center.
Now, let’s consider the impact of Bates’ acquisition on the Bears’ salary cap in 2024. In March 2022, Chicago had initially signed Bates to an offer sheet. However, Buffalo matched the offer, resulting in Bates signing a four-year contract worth $17 million, with $8.85 million guaranteed.
According to Over the Cap, Ryan Bates has two years remaining on his contract, with a total value of $8 million. In both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Bates is expected to have a salary cap hit of $4 million.
The Chicago Bears find themselves in a favorable position regarding the salary cap this offseason. They have approximately $75 million in cap space, which is the fourth highest amount in the league. This provides them with ample flexibility to address various roster needs through free agency, and potentially re-sign some of their own players.
