The Chicago Bears still have a glaring hole within the interior of the offensive line after losing out on restricted free agent Ryan Bates.
Bates signed his offer sheet from the Bears on March 24, which gave the Bills five days to match Chicago’s offer. They took things down to the wire on Monday, where GM Brandon Beane announced that they were doing just that.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears’ offer was a four-year deal worth $17 million. The first two years — $8.8 million — are fully guaranteed. Now, Bates will get that same deal from the Bills, who matched Chicago’s offer.
