7 NFL draft picks sign contracts with Chicago Bears
In a whirlwind of activity, the Bears announced the signings of seven of their nine NFL draft choices - all except first-rounder Leonard Floyd and third-rounder Jonathan Bullard.
The team also has signed 10 undrafted free agents to date.
Signing four-year contracts were: second-round offensive lineman Cody Whitehair; fourth-round linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski; fourth-round safety Deon Bush; fourth-round defensive back Deiondre' Hall; fifth-round running back Jordan Howard; sixth-round defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson; and seventh-round wide receiver Daniel Braverman.
The projected value of Whitehair's contract under the NFL's rookie compensation pool is $4.224 million with a $1.272 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac.com. As a 41-game starter at Kansas State, Whitehair started at every offensive line position except center, and he is expected to compete this season for a starting spot at left guard.
Kwiatkoski, the 113th overall draft pick, was a three-year starter at West Virginia who played all three linebacker positions in the Mountaineers' 3-4 defense. He will be an inside linebacker in the Bears' 3-4 scheme, penciled in behind starters Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. The projected value of his contract is $2.915 million with a $575,120 signing bonus.
Bush, the 124th overall pick, earned a reputation at Miami as a big hitter with good range in the secondary. He will be in the mix for a starting job with the Bears at a safety position now that veteran Antrel Rolle was recently released. Bush's projected contract is $2.866 million with a $526,218 signing bonus.
Hall, the 127th overall selection, and the first Bears' draft pick to sign, agreed to a deal for $2.851 million that includes a $510,891 signing bonus. At Northern Iowa, the 6-foot-2, 199-pound Hall split his time between cornerback and safety and will compete for playing time in the Bears' secondary. In 2014, as a full-time corner, Hall intercepted 5 passes. Last season, playing mostly safety, he had 6 picks, and he finished his career with 13 interceptions, including a school-record 4 interceptions for touchdowns.
Howard rushed for 1,213 yards last season at Indiana, averaging 6.2 yards per carry after transferring from Alabama-Birmingham when that program disbanded. In his final season at UAB in 2014, Howard rushed for 1,587 yards with a 5.2-yard average.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Howard is expected to complement returning players Jeremy Langford and Ka'Deem Carey with his powerful, tackle-breaking style. Howard's projected deal is $2.588 million with a $248,022 signing bonus.
Houston-Carson was a cornerback in his first three seasons at William & Mary but switched to safety as a senior and was the Colonial Athletic Association co-defensive player of the year in 2015. The projected value of his contract is $2.481 million, including a signing bonus of $140,942.
Braverman caught 108 passes for 1,377 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season at Western Michigan. The 230th overall selection is projected to get $2.149 million with a $79,397 signing bonus.
The 10 undrafted rookies who signed are: Harvard tight end Ben Braunecker; Duquesne offensive lineman Dan Buchholz; Mississippi State defensive back Taveze Calhoun; Villanova linebacker Don Cherry; Georgia Southern wide receiver Derek Keaton; Buffalo offensive lineman John Kling; Liberty wide receiver Darrin Peterson; Oklahoma State cornerback Kevin Peterson; Texas-El Paso linebacker Roy Robertson-Harris; and Wisconsin-Oshkosh tight end Joseph Sommers.
All draft picks and undrafted free agents are expected at the Bears' rookie minicamp Friday-Sunday at Halas Hall. The Bears' roster currently stands at the maximum of 90.
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