The Bears signed their running back of the future earlier today. Matt Forte, now the starter by default, was given a 4 year contract. With no Cedric Benson in his way, expect Forte to make the most of this opportunity when training camp opens on July 23. He'll have all of the opportunities Cedric was given, but with no Thomas Jones entrenched in the locker room causing a rift and competing for the starting job. There can be no better situation for a rookie running back to flourish. He has Adrian Peterson as his primary back-up and Garrett Wolfe as the change-of-pace reliever if no one other free agent is signed. Forte will have the overwhelming bulk of the carries, as he should be far and away more talented and suited for the role.
His signing is important news for the Chicago Bears, as it leaves only first-round OT Chris Williams unsigned from their rookie class of '08. GM Jerry Angelo is consistently ahead of the curve in the NFL when it comes to addressing rookie contracts. He does not wait for the market to establish itself for any position or round, instead choosing to dole out contracts he deems fit for each player. It is surely working in his favor. I expect Chris Williams to be signed within a week, and that is a conservative estimate on my part. There shouldn't be any significant disagreements from the 14th overall pick. The only real issues come from the top 10 picks in any given draft, and 3 of the top 4 are already signed, so be prepared for a fairly drama-free draft class in general.
Unfortunately, Jerry Angelo only moves this quickly with his draft picks. He tends to move like molasses when it comes to free agent signings unless your name is Muhsin Muhammad. To his credit, his top three picks should make an impact right away. Chris Williams will be a day-one starter, as will Forte. Third-round wide-out Earl Bennett should compete for the slot receiver's job, and more than likely have that role to himself by the end of the season.
It's a solid draft for Angelo, there's no disputing that. I can't wait to see the results on the field in September.
Keywords: Chicago Bears, Chris Williams, draft, Jerry Angelo, Matt Forte, NFL
