Lucas Patrick, the former Bears center/guard, has found a new home. The New Orleans Saints announced on Monday that they signed Patrick to a one-year contract.
#Saints announce the signing of OL Lucas Patrick & DT Kendal Vickers! pic.twitter.com/PywoMyleoO
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 13, 2024
The Bears signed Patrick to a two-year contract in 2022 with the expectation that he would anchor their offensive line at center. For a variety of reasons, things did not work out. Patrick injured himself early in his Bears career and attempted to play guard in 2022, but he proved to be a weak link on the offensive line. He returned to center in 2023, and his play improved, but not enough for GM Ryan Poles to offer him a new deal.
Patrick first joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent for the Packers in 2016. Patrick appeared in 96 regular-season games, starting 54 of them, during his seven-year career in the interior. He also started three postseason games for the Packers as right guard.
This year, the Bears will have two new choices at center. Ryan Bates will have the inside road to the starting role, but Coleman Shelton will also be battling for it. Doug Kramer is another center on the squad, but he is considered to be a depth player.
