SATURDAY, 10:05am: The Bears have officially announced the move via Twitter.
FRIDAY, 5:14pm: The Bears have signed their highest-profile draft pick, inking first-round edge rusher Leonard Floyd to a contract, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). With the former Georgia standout now signed, the only remaining player of the Bears’ 2016 class without a contract is third-round defensive end Jonathan Bullard, as noted by PFR’s draft tracker.
Floyd became a Bear after they moved up two spots in the draft for him. The club was set to pick 11th overall, but it surrendered a fourth-rounder to Tampa Bay to land the ninth selection and grab Floyd. The 6-foot-4, 231-pounder was a dominant performer during his three-year tenure at Georgia, where he played both outside linebacker and defensive end, racking up 17 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss. He’ll now serve as a prominent member of a Bears defense that also features the likes of Pernell McPhee, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston as pass-rushing threats.
The Bears’ four-year deal with Floyd will be worth in the $15.78MM range, including a signing bonus worth $9.68MM. It will also feature a fifth-year option for 2020.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Still a huge risk for a number 9 pick!