Giants Host Vet Center Bates for Offensive Line Boost

0:00It's March 17th. Here's your NFL news in two minutes. The New York Giants are looking to shore up their offensive line after most big free agent signed for the 2026 season. They hosted veteran center Ryan Bates this week at their East Rutherford facility to address key gaps at center and guard. Bates, a 29-year-old undrafted free agent from Penn State, brings six years of NFL experience. Bates started with the Philadelphia Eagles before spending five seasons, mostly as a reserve with the Buffalo Bills. Last year, he handled special teams duties for the Chicago Bears. He's versatile across left guard, center and right guard, with his best stretch coming in 2021 and 2022 at right guard for the Bills where he excelled in past protection. The Giants faced real uncertainty up front after losing back-up center, Austin Schlotman to the Tennessee Titans. Right guard Greg Bain-Rotan remains unsigned and left guard John Runyon is in approval year. They recently resigned Aaron Stinney, who barely started last season and Evan Neal, their

1:04former first-round pick who dealt with injuries. General manager Joe Shone knows Bates well from their overlapping time in Buffalo when Shone assisted there. Bates could provide cheap death, especially if starter John Michael Schmitz goes down, given the thin back-up options. With free agency winding down, the Giants might pair a Bates deal with draft picks in April to build interior strength before fall camp. For now, no agreement is set, but the visit signals urgency for reliable reinforcements. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor, some Chase Peace. I put my head in it, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.