| No. 82 –Cleveland Browns | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1999-10-17)October 17, 1999 (age 25) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
| College: | Kentucky (2018–2023) |
| Undrafted: | 2024 |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Brenden Bates (born October 17, 1999) is an American professionalfootballtight end for theCleveland Browns of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theKentucky Wildcats and was signed by theChicago Bears as anundrafted free agent in2024.
Bates was born on October 17, 1999, inCincinnati, Ohio.[1][2] Both his parents, his two siblings, and his grandfather each played collegiate sports.[2] He attendedMoeller High School in Cincinnati where he played football, basketball, and competed intrack and field.[2] In football, he was twice named first-team All-Greater Catholic League and had 17receptions for 305 yards and 11touchdowns as asenior.[2]
Bates was selected for the national team at theInternational Bowl.[2] He was ranked a four-star recruit and one of the toptight ends nationally.[3] In addition to his pass catching abilities, he was also considered a top blocker; he told theLexington Herald-Leader that "I take pride in blocking. I just love moving people against their will."[4] He committed to playcollege football for theKentucky Wildcats.[5]
As a truefreshman at Kentucky in 2018, Batesredshirted, appearing in two games.[6] The following season, he appeared in 13 games on thespecial teams unit.[7] He played in only six games in 2020 due to injury, making his first career catch that year.[7] In 2021, he was a starter in six games and totaled 11 catches for 70 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown.[7] He recorded 10 receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown during the 2022 season.[8] He returned for a final season in 2023, as all players were given an extra year of eligibility due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[9] In his final year, he caught four passes for 89 yards.[10] He finished his collegiate career having recorded 26 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns, while having started 25 of the 58 games in which he appeared.[2] He was invited to the 2024Hula Bowl all-star game.[11]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+3⁄8 in (1.94 m) | 246 lb (112 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9 in (0.23 m) | 4.68 s | 1.70 s | 2.82 s | 4.47 s | 7.10 s | 33.5 in (0.85 m) | 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) | 21 reps | |
| All values fromPro Day[12] | ||||||||||||
After going unselected in the2024 NFL draft, Bates signed with theChicago Bears as anundrafted free agent.[10] He was a standout performer in preseason, catching six passes for 100 yards.[13] He waswaived on August 27, as part of the roster cuts.[14]
One day after being waived by the Bears, Bates was claimed off waivers by theNew York Jets.[15] He was released on October 17, and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[16][17]
On December 18, 2024, theCleveland Browns signed Bates to their active roster off the Jets practice squad.[18]