[Biggs] – “The plan is for Bates to play center. He’s a low-cost addition — Bates will earn $4 million this season — and that fills a need without a big spend, leaving resources to potentially earmark for a position like defensive tackle.”
March 6, 2024
[Biggs] – “The plan is for Bates to play center. He’s a low-cost addition — Bates will earn $4 million this season — and that fills a need without a big spend, leaving resources to potentially earmark for a position like defensive tackle.”
46 comments
Don’t like this. Rather have depth and a tenured center, especially considering that you most likely won’t break the bank on these centers.
Veteran center for a rookie QB. Wouldn’t be surprised if we also draft a guy
Christian Wilkins *Shwing*
Braxton Jones, Tevin Jenkins, Nate Davis all missed 6+ games in 2023.
Bates did not start a single game in Buffalo last year.
Darnell Wright is the only guy to be consistently reliable on the line currently.
Is Poles really confident in putting a rookie qb behind these guys? Seems like a cast of misfit mid tier guys with questionable consistency.
We have seen how this plays out before.
Don’t like this plan.
If we’re able to somehow secure an extra day 2 pick and snag a center there, whether that’s from a Fields trade or moving back from 9, then I don’t hate this. But I’m really hoping we don’t leave the draft with just Bates and a day 3 pick.
If they wanted to bring in a relatively cheap middling center so that they can go big game hunting elsewhere I’m not gonna complain too much. Just hope they bring in a solid rookie for depth
Reminder this is coming from Brad Biggs. Who has back tracked many times of what he says. To fit a narrative.
What I am expecting, if say Bears can’t land a FA and miss out on draft due to can’t predict that period outside of 1st overall. Then Yes Bates will be starting C. Otherwise I am fully anticipating him to be a swing G/C as a good depth piece.
They’re drafting a center they want to play by week 10.
But how do we know this guy can snap the ball?
More band aids on offense while heavily investing on defense, if true
>As we sit here a week out from the opening of free agency, **it sure looks like the plan is** for the Bears to play Bates at center. **It doesn’t make sense to me** to sign a guy like Brewer or Shelton because they probably wouldn’t be far off from where the Bears see Bates.
This really reads as pure guesswork on Biggs’ part, I would not read into this as the set plan or facts or anything
Bates is what I thought Evan Brown would be. I bet they use a high pick on IOL and develop someone to take Nate or Bates position by next year.
If true, this is a lame ass band-aid. They better draft someone to develop.
So glad we have all this cap space that we seemingly are afraid to use even with the cap increase.
What if Doug Kramer is our backup center, lol.
Go get Christian Wilkins! Bates is ultra athletic which is really important in the new scheme Waldron will run.
Not allocating meaningful resources to center, the Ryan Poles special
Wait is he saying that he think Bates is the intended started at center? I liked this move when I thought it was for depth. If Pace is planning to do Lucas Patrick 2.0 I’m massively concerned
No no no no no. We draft a true center. Please.
If we can find a starting center for 4 mil a year, we should all be very happy about this.
Spending more does not equal getting more. We have to add value at some positions to be able to spend at other.
I withhold judgement on this until the full offseason is complete and we see how he plays.
dudes a backup. that’s where he’ll stay
Wtf why are we doing this again. Didn’t we learn from Lucas Patrick? Why is Poles allergic to just going after a good center?
Seems like an indication that Poles intends to use cap space for premium position free agents, and difference-making playmakers.
Even with Sweat under contract, it seems likely we offer either (or both): 1. d line (Hunter, Jones, Wilkins) 2. RB (Barkley or Jacobs)
Addressing FS, OC, WR2 and WR3 by value FA signings and draft
I think it’s a pretty good center class this year, so I don’t mind this if the plan is to pair him with a mid round guy you like. Let them compete. Bates sets the floor. If the rookie beats him out, he becomes good depth at all three interior positions.
The other possibility that makes some sense to me is they love Connor Williams, but don’t want to rush him back. So Bates is the bridge to Williams and then becomes good depth.
The biggest issue I have with it is I think there was a good chance Bates would have been a cap casualty and they could have gotten him without giving up draft capital.
That’s a big yikes from me, dog.
This plan has George McCaskey’s name written all over it.
Surprised he didn’t go out and sign Allegretti, he’s start worthy at G and serviceable as a depth center as well.
Plus he probably scouted him in KC.
Ryan Poles Mission: obtain an NFL center
Difficulty: IMPOSSIBLE
In all honesty, Ryan Poles’ plan on the offensive side since he has come here has been… bad?
I’d much rather draft a center (like we should’ve done last year) than move this guy to center based off “trust me bro.” Everyone we trotted out there last year at center was mediocre at best. Not sure why Poles is playing these games at this position.
As normal on here I would say, let’s wait until at least after the draft to criticize the roster. A lot of times, people get really upset, than poles does a bunch of stuff and looking back there was never really a reason to be upset.
For now, Bates is extremely good depth and our OL is better than it was last year. Still have FA and the draft to go.
This feels like either Poles brings in connor williams who is a high end C but wont be healthy for a while and bates holds the spot till then OR Poles has bates play the veteran role for a center he drafts. I doubt this is the last time we acquire a C this offseason either way
We still need depth in the interior for inevitably somebody that goes down with an injury. Should draft a G/C.
Poles really gonna go another year ignoring this position
Not really a fan of this unless he is just depth. Center needs to be solved with a legit player. It should have been a top priority. Maybe it still is. But the Bears have been able to consistently snap the fucking ball for a decade and a trade for another backup isn’t going to fix that.
Ideally we draft a center to sit behind him, then best case scenario the rookie is available late in the season after learning some
This is the kind of signing that will make or break this front office. It’s not anything obvious any of us would do in the same position.
Guy is a 78.7 rated center, so on paper this is an amazing pickup. That’s five points better than Lloyd Cushenberry for substantially less money. Now we just need to see it perform on the field.
Why trade for a guy on a non-minimum contract when you dont expect him to at least push to start? Pretty much consensus from bills fans is that he’s not going to be the reason we ever lose a game, which honestly sounds kinda huge for us at the center position, especially with a new qb. Relatively cheap veteran center who knows what they are doing is the way to go. Maybe use one of our mid round picks so that we have more than one person on the team that knows how to snap a football
C and LT are not positions to skimp on, yet here we are
really getting tired of half-assed band-aid fixes at center. whitehair somehow got a probowl bid in 2018 at center, then promptly forgot how to play the position in later years. prior to that you have to go back to 2006 or 07 for our last really good center. Cmon Poles, center cannot be a mere speed bump on the way to our QB any longer. Fix the damn position!
But I’m a smooth brained Bears fan and if Poles doesn’t get an all-pro at every single position I’m gonna whine and cry and bitch! I watch ESPN almost 3 times a week, I know more than that hack!
Ah fuck
I think this means they will definitely draft a Center
remember the last time chicago tried to cheaply fill the center position? I hope Bates is good, but Poles played offensive line, he should know better
Right, because a former Olineman is just going to cheap out on center with a rookie QB coming in…
I will be shocked if Bates is the starting center going into next season.
Looking at this as: its an upgrade at the weakest position on the line. Health is a concern, but on paper this line should be better than they were last year, and they were solid last year.
Now use that cap space to sign Chris Jones and Saquon Barkley! (And some o-line depth)
46 comments
Don’t like this. Rather have depth and a tenured center, especially considering that you most likely won’t break the bank on these centers.
Veteran center for a rookie QB. Wouldn’t be surprised if we also draft a guy
Christian Wilkins *Shwing*
Braxton Jones, Tevin Jenkins, Nate Davis all missed 6+ games in 2023.
Bates did not start a single game in Buffalo last year.
Darnell Wright is the only guy to be consistently reliable on the line currently.
Is Poles really confident in putting a rookie qb behind these guys? Seems like a cast of misfit mid tier guys with questionable consistency.
We have seen how this plays out before.
Don’t like this plan.
If we’re able to somehow secure an extra day 2 pick and snag a center there, whether that’s from a Fields trade or moving back from 9, then I don’t hate this. But I’m really hoping we don’t leave the draft with just Bates and a day 3 pick.
If they wanted to bring in a relatively cheap middling center so that they can go big game hunting elsewhere I’m not gonna complain too much. Just hope they bring in a solid rookie for depth
Reminder this is coming from Brad Biggs. Who has back tracked many times of what he says. To fit a narrative.
What I am expecting, if say Bears can’t land a FA and miss out on draft due to can’t predict that period outside of 1st overall. Then Yes Bates will be starting C. Otherwise I am fully anticipating him to be a swing G/C as a good depth piece.
They’re drafting a center they want to play by week 10.
But how do we know this guy can snap the ball?
More band aids on offense while heavily investing on defense, if true
>As we sit here a week out from the opening of free agency, **it sure looks like the plan is** for the Bears to play Bates at center. **It doesn’t make sense to me** to sign a guy like Brewer or Shelton because they probably wouldn’t be far off from where the Bears see Bates.
This really reads as pure guesswork on Biggs’ part, I would not read into this as the set plan or facts or anything
Bates is what I thought Evan Brown would be. I bet they use a high pick on IOL and develop someone to take Nate or Bates position by next year.
If true, this is a lame ass band-aid. They better draft someone to develop.
So glad we have all this cap space that we seemingly are afraid to use even with the cap increase.
What if Doug Kramer is our backup center, lol.
Go get Christian Wilkins! Bates is ultra athletic which is really important in the new scheme Waldron will run.
Not allocating meaningful resources to center, the Ryan Poles special
Wait is he saying that he think Bates is the intended started at center? I liked this move when I thought it was for depth. If Pace is planning to do Lucas Patrick 2.0 I’m massively concerned
No no no no no. We draft a true center. Please.
If we can find a starting center for 4 mil a year, we should all be very happy about this.
Spending more does not equal getting more. We have to add value at some positions to be able to spend at other.
I withhold judgement on this until the full offseason is complete and we see how he plays.
dudes a backup. that’s where he’ll stay
Wtf why are we doing this again. Didn’t we learn from Lucas Patrick? Why is Poles allergic to just going after a good center?
Seems like an indication that Poles intends to use cap space for premium position free agents, and difference-making playmakers.
Even with Sweat under contract, it seems likely we offer either (or both):
1. d line (Hunter, Jones, Wilkins)
2. RB (Barkley or Jacobs)
Addressing FS, OC, WR2 and WR3 by value FA signings and draft
I think it’s a pretty good center class this year, so I don’t mind this if the plan is to pair him with a mid round guy you like. Let them compete. Bates sets the floor. If the rookie beats him out, he becomes good depth at all three interior positions.
The other possibility that makes some sense to me is they love Connor Williams, but don’t want to rush him back. So Bates is the bridge to Williams and then becomes good depth.
The biggest issue I have with it is I think there was a good chance Bates would have been a cap casualty and they could have gotten him without giving up draft capital.
That’s a big yikes from me, dog.
This plan has George McCaskey’s name written all over it.
Surprised he didn’t go out and sign Allegretti, he’s start worthy at G and serviceable as a depth center as well.
Plus he probably scouted him in KC.
Ryan Poles Mission: obtain an NFL center
Difficulty: IMPOSSIBLE
In all honesty, Ryan Poles’ plan on the offensive side since he has come here has been… bad?
I’d much rather draft a center (like we should’ve done last year) than move this guy to center based off “trust me bro.” Everyone we trotted out there last year at center was mediocre at best. Not sure why Poles is playing these games at this position.
As normal on here I would say, let’s wait until at least after the draft to criticize the roster. A lot of times, people get really upset, than poles does a bunch of stuff and looking back there was never really a reason to be upset.
For now, Bates is extremely good depth and our OL is better than it was last year. Still have FA and the draft to go.
This feels like either Poles brings in connor williams who is a high end C but wont be healthy for a while and bates holds the spot till then OR Poles has bates play the veteran role for a center he drafts. I doubt this is the last time we acquire a C this offseason either way
We still need depth in the interior for inevitably somebody that goes down with an injury. Should draft a G/C.
Poles really gonna go another year ignoring this position
Not really a fan of this unless he is just depth. Center needs to be solved with a legit player. It should have been a top priority. Maybe it still is. But the Bears have been able to consistently snap the fucking ball for a decade and a trade for another backup isn’t going to fix that.
Ideally we draft a center to sit behind him, then best case scenario the rookie is available late in the season after learning some
This is the kind of signing that will make or break this front office. It’s not anything obvious any of us would do in the same position.
Guy is a 78.7 rated center, so on paper this is an amazing pickup. That’s five points better than Lloyd Cushenberry for substantially less money. Now we just need to see it perform on the field.
Why trade for a guy on a non-minimum contract when you dont expect him to at least push to start? Pretty much consensus from bills fans is that he’s not going to be the reason we ever lose a game, which honestly sounds kinda huge for us at the center position, especially with a new qb. Relatively cheap veteran center who knows what they are doing is the way to go. Maybe use one of our mid round picks so that we have more than one person on the team that knows how to snap a football
C and LT are not positions to skimp on, yet here we are
really getting tired of half-assed band-aid fixes at center. whitehair somehow got a probowl bid in 2018 at center, then promptly forgot how to play the position in later years. prior to that you have to go back to 2006 or 07 for our last really good center. Cmon Poles, center cannot be a mere speed bump on the way to our QB any longer. Fix the damn position!
But I’m a smooth brained Bears fan and if Poles doesn’t get an all-pro at every single position I’m gonna whine and cry and bitch! I watch ESPN almost 3 times a week, I know more than that hack!
Ah fuck
I think this means they will definitely draft a Center
remember the last time chicago tried to cheaply fill the center position? I hope Bates is good, but Poles played offensive line, he should know better
Right, because a former Olineman is just going to cheap out on center with a rookie QB coming in…
I will be shocked if Bates is the starting center going into next season.
Looking at this as: its an upgrade at the weakest position on the line. Health is a concern, but on paper this line should be better than they were last year, and they were solid last year.
Now use that cap space to sign Chris Jones and Saquon Barkley! (And some o-line depth)