‘The One That Got Away’ in Vikings Free Agency

'The One That Got Away' in Vikings Free Agency
Ryan Bates

The Minnesota Vikings notably signed Harrison Phillips (DT), Jordan Hicks (LB), Za’Darius Smith (EDGE), and Chandon Sullivan (CB) in free agency to date, but there is one that evidently got away.

That’s Ryan Bates, an offensive lineman from the Buffalo Bills, who was signed to an offer sheet by the Chicago Bears. Buffalo can match the offer this week, but the likelihood is for Bates to become a Bear.

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Bates, a restricted free agent, had substantial interest from the Vikings and the new leadership regime of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell. In fact, Minnesota reportedly wanted Bates “badly,” according to Darren Wolfson from KSTP. The Vikings pass protection has waned for about a decade, always specializing in run-blocking but leaving pass-blocking as a relative afterthought.

Wolfson said about Bates and the Vikings:

“The Vikings did make an offer. The Vikings wanted Ryan Bates. They made him a nice offer. I don’t necessarily know if it’s the same offer that the Bears made. The Bears certainly have a bit more financial flexibility than the Vikings. But make no mistake about this: the Vikings made Bates an offer. They wanted him badly.”

Darren Wolfson | On Mackey & Judd
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Bates played in all 17 Bills games during 2021, starting on four occasions. All told, he played on 25% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps. An undrafted free agent in 2019, Bates attended Penn State University. The Bills scooped him after the 2019 NFL Draft as a depth offensive lineman.

Although snaps are minimal for Bates so far in his career, this is Pro Football Focus resume:

  • 2019 = 63.5
  • 2020 = 67.5
  • 2021 = 64.3

Bates likely would’ve played right guard for the Vikings, a spot that notoriously plagues the team with men like Dakota Dozier, Dru Samia, and Oli Udoh failing to assert a stranglehold on the job in the last two seasons.

With Bates likely heading to the Bears, the Vikings could have eyes on a different veteran, for example, Ereck Flowers. Minnesota was rumored last week to have interest in him, too.

If Bates lands in Chicago, he’ll be the second offensive lineman in a week somewhat associated with the Vikings offseason to join the team. Last week, the Bears signed the aforementioned Dakota Dozier (for some reason).

Per PFF, the Vikings ranked sixth-worst in the NFL during 2021 for pass protection.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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