Despite offseason upgrades, Bears near bottom of 2024 center rankings

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles completely revamped the center position this offseason. Poles decided against re-signing last year’s primary starter, Lucas Patrick. Alternative option Cody Whitehair was released from his contract in a cap-clearing move in February.

Needing to acquire two players to replace Whitehair and Patrick, Poles got creative. He first traded with the Buffalo Bills for Ryan Bates, a versatile blocker he once signed to an offer sheet. The Bears doubled down at the position by signing Coleman Shelton following his release from the Los Angeles Rams.

The Bears will embrace competition at training camp for the starting gig. Bates is the early favorite to claim the role. Pro Football Focus, who recently ranked all 32 starting centers in the league, agreed. That doesn’t necessarily mean they view Bates in favorable lighting. He clocked in at No. 25 overall.

1. Creed Humphrey
…
32. ?

Ranking the Top-32 centers in the NFLhttps://t.co/KcvhCXBzag

— PFF (@PFF) June 14, 2024

“The Bears traded for Bates in the offseason to likely fill the void left by the departing Cody Whitehair,” PFF wrote. “Bates was a backup guard for the Bills in 2023, barely featuring, but started 15 games at right guard last season and earned a 61.8 grade. Bates was good for the Bills on a limited sample size.”

Patrick was credited with allowing 28 quarterback pressures last season. He was whistled for a position-leading 11 penalties as well. PFF assigned Patrick a lackluster pass-blocking grade of 40.6 and a run-blocking score of 61.6. Whitehair didn’t fare much better as the primary left guard, with a 42.4 run-blocking grade. PFF isn’t bullish on Bates and Shelton, but it’d be shocking if they didn’t represent an upgrade.

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