Windy City Gridiron
The first of three second round selections for the Bears have signed their initial rookie contracts after a league-wide stalemate took place over the last few months.
A defensive lineman named Shemar from Texas A&M has finally signed their initial rookie contract after months of waiting following the conclusion of the latest annual NFL draft. To the delight of Chicago Bears fans, and the likely dismay of Cincinnati Bengals fans, it is none other than Shemar Turner who just inked the dotted line. The player who’s recently earned the nickname “Boss” will be reporting on time to training camp as a result.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bears have signed rookie defensive tackle Shemar Turner to their initial contract as a pro. He is but the fourth player selected in the 2nd round of this year’s class to sign their deal. Financial terms have not been disclosed as of the writing of this article.
Shemar Turner stands to be the final piece for an overhauled group up front along the defensive line. The former Aggies defensive lineman will bring his nasty demeanor and versatility to play at every spot to a squad that needed both an attitude amplification and more beef for their interior. He will likely rotate in with fellow newcomer and Pro Bowl veteran Grady Jarrett for a majority of his rookie season.
This signing is also key for the Bears, as it appears the league-wide stalemate with players drafted in the second round has ended. Prior to this signing, and yesterday’s news of the 49ers signing Alfred Collins to his rookie contract, only two players had signed out of thirty-two selected in the very same round. Most speculation has included questions and concerns about guaranteed figures within these otherwise pre-negotiated deals laid out in the CBA.
That detail is under the microscope in Chicago given the fact they have no fewer than three total players who were selected in round two. Shemar Turner was the third out of three taken on the same day, with the other two between OT Ozzy Trapilo and WR Luther Burden III remaining unsigned. Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, there is optimism that those two players will be wrapped up shortly.
I’d imagine Ozzy Trapilo’s deal gets done and announced shortly after publishing this article. Luther Burden III’s contract might be the most complex of the three to get completed due to the percentage of guarantees before and after the slot he was selected at. Still, there are just two more rookies to sign to their deals, and the expectation is both are done before camp begins.
