The Chicago Bears have finally managed to land Warrington native and Archbishop Wood graduate Ryan Bates, write John Wawrow and Tom Haines for the Bucks County Courier Times.

The Bears will trade a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for the 27-year-old offensive lineman.

The deal was announced on Monday and is still pending a physical. It will not become official until the beginning of the new business year for the NFL on March 13.

The Bears previously tried to acquire Bates in 2022, when he was a restricted free agent, by signing him to an offer sheet. However, the bills managed to retain Bates by matching the $17 million, four-year contract offer made by the Chicago team.

Bates was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, when he was an undrafted rookie free agent from Penn State. The team then traded him to the Bills. That first season, he made the Bills 53-man roster and is now entering his sixth NFL season. Last season he served as a backup, which limited him to 35 snaps.

Bates is known for his ability to play in various positions along the line.

Read more about Ryan Bates’ journey to success in the Bucks County Courier Times.

Bears trade for offensive lineman Ryan Bates