The Chicago Bears commenced their offseason with the acquisition of Ryan Bates through a trade, surrendering merely a fifth-round pick.
Despite the seemingly modest cost, it’s evident that Bates has been a coveted asset for the team for quite some time, underscoring his integral role in their strategic blueprint.
As each new player joins the squad, existing roster members inevitably feel the ripple effects.
Given the arrival of Ryan Bates, which Bears stand to experience the most significant impact?
In another development, the Chicago Bears have opted not to extend Teven Jenkins during this offseason.
This decision marks a pivotal juncture for the franchise regarding Jenkins, who is entering his fourth season and is poised to become a free agent after the upcoming campaign.
The team confronts the dilemma of whether to offer him an extension now or risk encountering a scenario akin to Jaylon Johnson’s, where they face the prospect of losing him to free agency.
For the Chicago Bears, the course of action appears straightforward: they cannot afford to extend Jenkins.
Despite displaying commendable performance levels as a center when he does play, Jenkins’ availability has been marred by a litany of injuries, including neck, back, concussion, and calf issues.
Moreover, the fact that Ryan Poles, the team’s decision-maker, didn’t draft Jenkins and has shuffled him across various positions without finding a stable role suggests a lack of conviction in his potential.
Ryan Bates is poised to assume the backup role behind Teven Jenkins, with the possibility of starting in five or six games as Jenkins’ replacement.
Notably, Bates is under contract for the following year, unlike Jenkins. Should Bates outperform Jenkins or demonstrate only a marginal difference in performance, it would provide the Chicago Bears with valuable insights.
Last season, the Bears relied heavily on Ja’Tyre Carter as a backup, a role that seemed to overwhelm him.
Despite being a former seventh-round pick, Carter saw a significant uptick in playing time due to injuries suffered by key starters such as Jenkins and Nate Davis.
However, Carter’s performance, while not disastrous, failed to sufficiently impress, relegating him to a backup role, with limited opportunities to feature except in emergency situations.
While it might be disappointing that Carter hasn’t earned more trust entering his third year, his draft pedigree and limited sample size perhaps mitigate expectations.
Nonetheless, his prospects for an expanded role have been effectively curtailed by the acquisition of Ryan Bates.
