Nick Gates Agrees to Terms with Commanders
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A source confirmed that interior offensive lineman Nick Gates is headed to Washington on a free-agent deal to compete for their starting center job.
Gates joined the Giants in May 2018 as an undrafted free agent from the University of Nebraska, where he earned Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2016 and BTN All-Bowl Team in 2015 as a tackle.
In his first year with the Giants, Gates was on injured reserve with the Giants in 2018, Gates spent most of his first season on the injured reserve list. The following year, he appeared in spot duty at guard, playing 291 snaps while learning the center position.
In 2020, Gates switched to center while signing a two-year, $6.825 million contract extension. He played in a career-high 1,015 snaps (633 pass, 381 run) and recorded a 98.6 percent pass-blocking efficiency rating, allowing just 16 pressures and no sacks per Pro Football Focus.
In 2021, Gates suffered a gruesome broken leg in a Week 2 loss to the Commanders. He underwent multiple surgeries and attacked his rehab with the same vigor as his on-field style of play, determined to return to the game he loved playing.
Gates finally recognized that goal last year when he was activated after starting the first half of the season on PUP. He contributed at left guard and center while giving a few snaps as an inline tight end.
Gates played in 368 snaps and allowed just one sack, two hits, and seven hurries for ten pressures in the pocket, resulting in a PFF efficiency rating of 97.4 percent.
The Giants had preliminary conversations with Gates's agent after the season ended, but a return to New York seemed less and less likely as time went on. Gates will likely compete with Chase Roullier, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 last season, for the Commanders' starting center spot.
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