Ever since Cedric Benson was a 36-day holdout as a first-round draft pick in 2005, Cliff Stein and the Chicago Bears have taken an aggressive approach getting rookies under contract.
To that end, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery became the first player from the just completed 2012 draft to have a deal done. The Bears’ second-round draft pick from South Carolina will sign a four-year contract.
Chances are good Jeffery, the 45th overall selection, received close to what the Denver Broncos gave safety Rahim Moore, the same pick in the 2011 draft, a year ago. Moore received a four-year, $4.448 million contract. The deal included a $1.73 million signing bonus.
The Bears’ rookie salary-cap pool is $4,189,971. Stein has five more players to get done, including defensive end Shea McClellin, the first-round pick.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune