On Friday the Chicago Bears officially signed their first round pick, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd out of Georgia. The Bears inked Floyd to a 4-year deal worth roughly $15.78MM which includes a signing bonus of $9.68MM. Since Floyd was a first round pick the Bears will have the option to add a fifth year to the deal.
In order to draft Floyd the Bears had to move up from the eleventh overall pick to the ninth by trading with the Tampa Bay Bucs, offering the highest of their three fourth round picks to move up two spots and draft Floyd. The trade may have been a necessity as the New York Giants were rumored to be interested in Floyd with the 10th overall pick.
It was a risky move by 2nd-year GM Ryan Pace to trade up for a player who was graded as a top-ten pick more on potential than productivity. Floyd had just 17 sacks in three seasons as a starter at Georgia, but showed an elite burst off the edge that was at a premium in this year’s draft. Georgia also moved Floyd around due to injuries at other positions, so he wasn’t always in the position to rush the passer.
That will most likely be is primary job with the Bears at least as a rookie, until Floyd can add some weight to his 6’6, 244 pound frame and learn the nuances of Vic Fangio’s defense. Floyd should give the Bears a new dimension to their defense with speed off the edge that should complement their existing power rushers (McPhee, Houston, & Young) well.
The Floyd signing leaves only one draft pick unsigned, 3rd rounder Jonathan Bullard. For more on Floyd, check out my draft recap.