May 28--The Bears agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd on a four-year contract Friday, a deal that includes a club option for a fifth year.
Floyd, selected ninth overall, is expected to boost the team's pass rush and the outside linebacker will push for a starting position immediately.
The Bears now have eight of their nine draft picks under contract. Third-round draft pick Jonathan Bullard has yet to get a contract but it is typically slow going for picks in the top half of the third round.
The Bears traded up two spots to No. 9 in the draft to add the outside linebacker to a defense in need of speed in the front seven. He's expected to be a major contributor as a rookie for a defense that tied for 22nd in the NFL in sacks with 35 a year ago.
The contract is expected to pay Floyd close to $15.8 million over the next four seasons. Kevin White, the team's first-round pick (seventh overall) a year ago, is in the second year of a $16.5 million, four-year contract.
The Bears hold an option on Floyd for the 2020 season. The team recently picked up the fifth-year option for right guard Kyle Long, the club's first-round pick in 2013.
bmbiggs@tribpub.com
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