LAKE FOREST, IL -- The Chicago Bears agreed to terms on a four-year contact with RB Matt Forte. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Forte was selected by the Bears in the second round (44th overall) out of Tulane and is the 11th of 12 Bears drafts picks to sign or agree to terms. The only player who remains unsigned is first-round pick Chris Williams.
Forte is expected to replace Cedric Benson in the lineup. The Bears waived Benson in June after three ineffective, injury-plagued years following his second alcohol-related rest in a month.
Unless the Bears sign a veteran, Forte figures to get most of the carries.
Forte finished his career at Tulane as the school's all-time leader in rushing yards per game (99.2), rushing touchdowns (39), total touchdowns (44) and scoring among non-kickers (266 points).
Forte is just the 11th player in NCAA Division I (Bowl Subdivision) history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season with 2,127 in 2007 which ranks seventh all-time in NCAA history.
Chicago had already signed or agreed to terms with third round picks Marcus Harrison and Earl Bennett, fourth-round choice Craig Steltz, fifth-round selections Kellen Davis and Zack Bowman, and seventh-round picks Ervin Baldwin, Chester Adams, Joey LaRocque, Kirk Barton and Marcus Monk.
Information from the Associated Press was included in this report
