Bills acquire offensive lineman Ryan Bates in trade with Eagles

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The Buffalo Bills made a trade on Friday, acquiring offensive lineman Ryan Bates from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for defensive end Eli Harold.

The @BuffaloBills have acquired OL Ryan Bates via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for DE Eli Harold. pic.twitter.com/isJrDF2Lm9

— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) August 9, 2019

Back in May, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, who has experience in the NFL as a scout with three different teams, listed Bates on his “Undrafted All-Star Team.”

 

Undrafted All-Star Team (highest rated)QB B. Rypien Boise StRB J. Moore App StWR K. Doss UC DavisWR E. Hall MissouriWR S. Morgan NEBTE D. Raymond Utah StOT R. Bates Penn StOT S. Opeta Weber StIOL B. Benzschawel WISCIOL T. Jones NCSTIOL B. Knight IND

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) May 10, 2019

NBC Sports’ and Rotoworld’s Josh Norris noted his athleticism.

Tested as an above average athlete. 71st percentile composite score.

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 9, 2019

Bates does offer position flexibility, having played both guard and tackle at Penn State. He lined up almost exclusively at tackle with the Eagles during training camp, but some believe he would fit better in the NFL as a guard or even center.

Harold signed with the Bills as a free agent back in April after spending his first three pro seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

 

Sal’s Take
  1. The trade loosens, what has become, a log jam at defensive end for the Bills, especially after rookie Darryl Johnson looked so good in Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. They now have six ends - starters Jerry Hughes and Trent Murphy, with backups Shaq Lawson, Mike Love, Darryl Johnson, and Eddie Yarbrough all fighting for spots. Harold just wasn’t going to be in the mix. 
  2. It might be an indication the team wants to keep Cody Ford at guard and not have to have him continue to get reps at tackle, so he can focus on one position. He played both spots on Thursday night. 
  3. With center Mitch Morse and now tackle Conor McDermott both in concussion protocol, as well as center Russell Bodine dealing with an oblique injury, the team is running thin on offensive linemen. They have joint practices coming up next week with the Carolina Panthers. It will be hot and will get physical. They’ll most likely want to have extra bodies available and keep players as fresh as possible.

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