Ryan Bates is a Bear

[Sculpt]

Unless that pick is a 2nd or higher, I don't see how anyone could say that's not a pretty big fail on Poles' part. Bates figures to be better than Patrick but he's still only a $5 mil per year type guy. Nate Davis got twice that and people are eager to replace him.

An upper echelon free agent center still makes a lot of sense, IMO, with Bates being the first off the bench at all three interior spots.

Say you're GM, with all your cap, probably taking CW overall, would you be comfortable starting Nate Davis?

 

[Chicago4Life]

Unless that pick is a 2nd or higher, I don't see how anyone could say that's not a pretty big fail on Poles' part. Bates figures to be better than Patrick but he's still only a $5 mil per year type guy. Nate Davis got twice that and people are eager to replace him.

An upper echelon free agent center still makes a lot of sense, IMO, with Bates being the first off the bench at all three interior spots.

noone truly knows what the role will be for bates until poles/eberflus speak on it... whether he is the starting center while a rookie is groomed or a backup for all interior spots. Davis had ups and down but given what he went through with a death in the family i'm willing to see how he is this year before getting on the cut him wagon. You know how poles operates...he does not spend big in free agency and certainly wont be offering any record breaking deals unless the team is a player or two away from a superbowl run. Williams could be signed to a lesser deal but it also wouldnt suprise if poles sticks with bates and drafts someone like van pran in the 3rd or nourzad in the later rounds.

 

[remydat]

The only fringe on that list is J. Jones the rest are very solid.

Justin Jones was solid this year.

 

[IBleedBearsBlood]

If we could stick him away on PS and let him go after years I'd already declare him winner of the preseason.

It makes sense to get him if the plan is to draft a center or get Connor Williams. He can start while needed and move into being a versatile backup or possibly even a starting G who can back up C.
But if this is Poles great long term starting C plan there is no way he should be allowed to draft a QB #1. It's the same old Bears.

Unless he's some kind of genius who knows better than Eagles and Bills. But as far as we have seen, Cody Whitehair will be our '23 Center so Poles is probably not that kind of genius to notice a player other good teams hadn't noticed for years.

I think your first thought is what they will be doing. An added plus, he can handle all interior positions if needed. Which we always need that here in Chicago. 2 years ago, he had plenty of snaps at 2 interior positions. Started many games.

 

[Nelly]

Say you're GM, with all your cap, probably taking CW overall, would you be comfortable starting Nate Davis?

See below.

noone truly knows what the role will be for bates until poles/eberflus speak on it... whether he is the starting center while a rookie is groomed or a backup for all interior spots. Davis had ups and down but given what he went through with a death in the family i'm willing to see how he is this year before getting on the cut him wagon.

Agreed.

You know how poles operates...he does not spend big in free agency and certainly wont be offering any record breaking deals unless the team is a player or two away from a superbowl run. Williams could be signed to a lesser deal but it also wouldnt suprise if poles sticks with bates and drafts someone like van pran in the 3rd or nourzad in the later rounds.

Most of our line is guys on rookie deals at this point. Bates and Davis will be the only ones who aren't really. Not just Jones, Jenkins and Wright but also Borom, Carter and Kramer. It'd be a prudent move to grab another starting-caliber veteran considering you're bringing in Caleb Williams asa rookie QB as well (most likely). This team doesn't need to get terribly younger.

With Poles' stated goal to make the playoffs, you typically do better at that with vets, not rookies.

 

[remydat]

I sure hope not. It would mean Poles hasn't learned anything with the Lucas Patrick experiment. He needs to bring in another starter level talent on the interior to help out Caleb Williams. Bates is a great backup for all 3 interior positions.

Lucas Patrick and Ryan Bates are 2 different players. It is a bit silly to have a prejudiced opinion of Bates based on the fact you view him as similar to Patrick because ie they were both backups.

Some backups are ready to start. Some are not. What do you know about Bates' skill set or abilities that allows you to determine which bucket he is in?

 

[Nelly]

Lucas Patrick and Ryan Bates are 2 different players. It is a bit silly to have a prejudiced opinion of Bates based on the fact you view him as similar to Patrick because ie they were both backups.

Some backups are ready to start. Some are not. What do you know about Bates' skill set or abilities that allows you to determine which bucket he is in?

I think Bates would be a solid starting center. My only point is that most people thought Patrick could be as well, so you never know. I'd prefer Bates be the first one off the bench cause we'll need a reliable interior lineman at many points during the season and I'd rather see that be Bates and Dan Feeney or Ja'Tyre Carter.

 

[remydat]

If we could stick him away on PS and let him go after years I'd already declare him winner of the preseason.

It makes sense to get him if the plan is to draft a center or get Connor Williams. He can start while needed and move into being a versatile backup or possibly even a starting G who can back up C.
But if this is Poles great long term starting C plan there is no way he should be allowed to draft a QB #1. It's the same old Bears.

Unless he's some kind of genius who knows better than Eagles and Bills. But as far as we have seen, Cody Whitehair will be our '23 Center so Poles is probably not that kind of genius to notice a player other good teams hadn't noticed for years.

The Eagles OL was stacked and the Bills matched the Bears offer on Bates 2 years ago. So it is entirely possible they view him as a good player but had other players they liked.

 

[DC]

Say you're GM, with all your cap, probably taking CW overall, would you be comfortable starting Nate Davis?

Depends on how many days of camp he misses. Over/Under set at 12.

 

[Chicago4Life]

Most of our line is guys on rookie deals at this point. Bates and Davis will be the only ones who aren't really. Not just Jones, Jenkins and Wright but also Borom, Carter and Kramer. It'd be a prudent move to grab another starting-caliber veteran considering you're bringing in Caleb Williams asa rookie QB as well (most likely). This team doesn't need to get terribly younger.

With Poles' stated goal to make the playoffs, you typically do better at that with vets, not rookies.

not sure why being on a rookie deal makes any difference...if your not a rookie or a 2nd yr player your basically a veteran the only time it would make an actual difference is regarding free agency.

 

[remydat]

I think Bates would be a solid starting center. My only point is that most people thought Patrick could be as well, so you never know. I'd prefer Bates be the first one off the bench cause we'll need a reliable interior lineman at many points during the season and I'd rather see that be Bates and Dan Feeney or Ja'Tyre Carter.

Sure. I am just saying just because he failed on Patrick doesnt mean he should never try again. By that logic Bears should never try and draft a QB high because they have failed at it before.

If their scouting says he is capable of being a starter at a good price then you pull the trigger. Can't be worried about past failures as every GM fails multiple times.

 

[Nelly]

Sure. I am just saying just because he failed on Patrick doesnt mean he should never try again. By that logic Bears should never try and draft a QB high because they have failed at it before.

If their scouting says he is capable of being a starter at a good price then you pull the trigger. Can't be worried about past failures as every GM fails multiple times.

I'm not worried about him being a failure. I'm worried about skimping on the line again. We need another capable interior lineman, period. You can't count on Jenkins playing 16 games and we have to hedge against Nate Davis being a pud since being paid. Bates is a nice pickup but I would prefer he be the backup and we still sign a guy like Cushenberry, Biadasz or Williams.

 

[Nelly]

not sure why being on a rookie deal makes any difference...if your not a rookie or a 2nd yr player your basically a veteran the only time it would make an actual difference is regarding free agency.

It's the youth. I'd want to have some more veterans to balance those guys out. We got rid of the vets we had in Whitehair and Patrick, rightfully so. It would be good to have another stable veteran presence there as well rather than yet another young guy, IMO.

 

[bears51/40]

Say you're GM, with all your cap, probably taking CW overall, would you be comfortable starting Nate Davis?

Yes.

 

[Spitta Andretti]

I'm not worried about him being a failure. I'm worried about skimping on the line again. We need another capable interior lineman, period. You can't count on Jenkins playing 16 games and we have to hedge against Nate Davis being a pud since being paid. Bates is a nice pickup but I would prefer he be the backup and we still sign a guy like Cushenberry, Biadasz or Williams.

Well its entirely possible you can sign one of those guys and he doesn't perform to expectations. Free agency can be like that

And he still might. Who knows

 

[Sculpt]

Depends on how many days of camp he misses. Over/Under set at 12.

I don't worry about Davis missing games... I worry about him playing games.

 

[pseudonym]

Wow, 16 pages on this guy. He's good depth, can play ALL of the OL positions. Poles loves him. It's a nice move, but the pick does sting a little. If he works out I think the price is fine.

 

[Sculpt]

Yes.

If he doesn't bounce back, what's your backup plan?

 

[Myk]

He started 15 games for the Bills in '22. Played in 73 games, including all 17 last yr.

Poles made an offer for him in 22 that Bills met to keep him. 78 PFF. He's got cred.

With so few picks, a hole at Center, would Poles trade a 5th Rd pick for a 5th yr player unless he was gonna start him?

If Poles is a legit GM wanting to make the Bears winners yes.
If Poles is a McCaskey lackey wanting to keep the status quo because so many Bears fans are happy to be losers then you spend the 5th to get a PS player from a winning team to be your starter.
It's obvious which camp you are in.

When you're thinking about spending the #1 on a QB a 5th for a known to be backup all across the interior is a good price. A 5th to draft a player who isn't likely to make the team is not.

I think your first thought is what they will be doing. An added plus, he can handle all interior positions if needed. Which we always need that here in Chicago. 2 years ago, he had plenty of snaps at 2 interior positions. Started many games.

That's what makes the most sense for any normal team and given the type of players Poles seems to like.

My only hesitancy is it's the Bears. I could easily see them saying Eagles PS player is our starting oline. But if he was going to do that I don't know why he wouldn't just go with Kramer as the starter. Could he be any worse than Whitehair who Poles said was great a year ago?
There had better be some bigger plans for center if the #1QB is a consideration.

 

[remydat]

I'm not worried about him being a failure. I'm worried about skimping on the line again. We need another capable interior lineman, period. You can't count on Jenkins playing 16 games and we have to hedge against Nate Davis being a pud since being paid. Bates is a nice pickup but I would prefer he be the backup and we still sign a guy like Cushenberry, Biadasz or Williams.

I am not sure I agree we skimpped on the line. We gave Davis 10m a year. Also drafted Wright, Jones, Kramer, Thomas, Cartera over the last 2 years and signed Reiff, Patrick, traded for Feeney and tried to sign Bates. I think the bigger issue is guys like Patrick and Davis have failed rather than we skimppes as we have dumped a lot of resources into OL.