Bears sign DT Harrison, reach terms with 2 picks

The Bears signed defensive tackle Marcus Harrison to a four-year, $2.4 million contract Tuesday that includes a $690,000 signing bonus.

Harrison, the Bears' second third-round pick and the 90th selection overall, is expected to get significant playing time as a backup in the Bears defensive line rotation behind Tommie Harris, Dusty Dvoracek and Anthony Adams.

The Bears also agreed to terms of four-year deals with their first third-round pick, wide receiver Earl Bennett (70th overall) and fifth-round cornerback Zack Bowman (142nd overall).

Bennett's deal is worth about $3 million, while Bowman's contract is believed to be for $1.95 million.

The Bears have now signed or agreed to terms with 10 of the 12 players they selected in this year's draft, although the two most important remain unsigned, first-round offensive tackle Chris Williams (14th overall) and second-round running back Matt Forte (44th overall).

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Harrison was a starter in all four of his seasons at Arkansas, starting a total of 34 games, despite two injuries to his left knee, both of which required surgery. His injury history plus an arrest last August for speeding and possession of marijuana caused Harrison's stock to drop on draft day.

Bennett became the all-time leading receiver in SEC history, catching 236 passes in three seasons at Vanderbilt. He is expected to contend for playing time in the Bears' crowded but unsettled wide receiver corps. The 6-foot, 203-pounder is the only player in SEC history to catch 75 or more passes in three seasons.

Bowman, a 6-foot, 197-pounder, was considered a potential first-round draft choice before he tore the ACL in his left knee in 2006 and the patellar tendon in his right knee in 2007. But the Bears were impressed with his recovery and workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine this spring, and he has run the 40-yard dash as fast as 4.44 even after his surgeries.