A hometown tight end who fought through four different rosters before sticking with the Browns.
Brenden Bates is a tight end for the Cleveland Browns, a Cincinnati native who went undrafted out of Kentucky in 2024 and has since bounced through the Bears, Jets and Texans before settling in Cleveland. His path has been defined by persistence, catching on with a new team every time one let him go.
Path to the league
Bates played six seasons at Kentucky (2018-2023), taking advantage of extra COVID-19 eligibility, and finished his college career with 26 receptions for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns across 58 games. He went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent, impressing in the preseason with 6 catches for 100 yards before being cut.
Career highlights
After Chicago waived him, the New York Jets claimed Bates off waivers, and he eventually landed on Cleveland's active roster in December 2024 after a stint on the Jets' practice squad. He was invited to the 2024 Hula Bowl coming out of college, a nod to his tools despite modest college production.
2025 season recap
Bates spent part of the 2025 season with the Houston Texans, making three appearances and catching 2 passes for 23 yards before being waived, and has otherwise continued cycling through Cleveland's roster. His career NFL totals through 2025 stand at 4 receptions for 48 yards.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Brenden Bates
- ESPN: Brenden Bates
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
6 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | browns | 6 | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 | 19 |
| 2025 | texans | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 0 | 19 |
| 2025 | 2025 Totals | 9 | 4 | 48 | 12.0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2024 | browns | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- offense
- College
- Kentucky
- Hometown
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
