Commanders re-signed TE John Bates to a three-year, $21 million contract.

A 2021 fourth-round pick, 27-year-old Bates just concluded his rookie contract with 61 catches in four years. That included just eight under new QB Jayden Daniels and OC Kliff Kingsbury last season. Pass-catching, of course, is not what Bates is paid to do. He’s a blocker, and will remain so after Zach Ertz re-upped for 2025 on Saturday evening.