Poles traded a 5th round pick for a backup while the Bills just released their starter...
Poles what are you doing?
It sounds like the Bills are in cap hell and need to shed players before next week's deadline. This guy is Whitehair's age. Like Whitehair he has played at a Pro Bowl level in the past. Both he and Whitehair were 2nd round draft picks. He did grade out almost exactly at Whitehair's 2022 grade (before Whitehair's game dropped off the cliff). He has a long history of injuries - especially concussions. He may not be worth his salary now.
Ryan Bates on the other hand is just entering his prime years.
And I would advise that you watch the entire clip posted by TheFootballScout on YT. He gives a very even-handed analysis of Bates. I want to give the credit to beareylo on this. He posted it a couple of days ago on the Ryan Bates thread. In the first 2 or 3 minutes you see Bates playing OC opposite Andrew Billings on the Bills-Bears PS game. He is giving Billings all or more that Billings can handle. There is a lot more of tape on Bates in that clip and the author goes into Bates' weaknesses as well as his strings. But it sure looks to me like we have gotten a pretty decent backup OC and OG. If the new OL coaching staff thinks he can improve and develop into a rotational interior OL starter, even better. At a 5th round pick it looks pretty cheap. But, as always, we need to see how this trade plays out.
Poles traded a 5th round pick for a backup while the Bills just released their starter...
Poles what are you doing?
Chillax man
Morse is 32 yo and Bates is a guy Poles has liked enough to go after TWICE. Poles isn't gonna sign a 32 yo player in year 3 of a rebuild and he isn't gonna spend that kind of money on a C.
It sounds like the Bills are in cap hell and need to shed players before next week's deadline. This guy is Whitehair's age. Like Whitehair he has played at a Pro Bowl level in the past. Both he and Whitehair were 2nd round draft picks. He did grade out almost exactly at Whitehair's 2022 grade (before Whitehair's game dropped off the cliff). He has a long history of injuries - especially concussions. He may not be worth his salary now.
Ryan Bates on the other hand is just entering his prime years.
And I would advise that you watch the entire clip posted by TheFootballScout on YT. He gives a very even-handed analysis of Bates. I want to give the credit to beareylo on this. He posted it a couple of days ago on the Ryan Bates thread. In the first 2 or 3 minutes you see Bates playing OC opposite Andrew Billings on the Bills-Bears PS game. He is giving Billings all or more that Billings can handle. There is a lot more of tape on Bates in that clip and the author goes into Bates' weaknesses as well as his strings. But it sure looks to me like we have gotten a pretty decent backup OC and OG. If the new OL coaching staff thinks he can improve and develop into a rotational interior OL starter, even better. At a 5th round pick it looks pretty cheap. But, as always, we need to see how this trade plays out.
Great video there. Bates looks like the kind of OL the Bears are trying to get - fast and athletic and smart. He is certainly a good 5th round investment. I think of Bates as our 5th round pick this year - but in FA. Looks like an ascending young guy who also has veteran experience too. Best of both worlds.
