Bears Agree To Terms With First Round Draft Pick Kyle Long
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears and first-round draft pick Kyle Long agreed to a four-year contract Friday.
The deal includes a fifth-year option. It also puts all the Bears' picks under contract.
A 6-foot-6, 313-pound guard from Oregon, Long was taken with the 20th pick as the Bears try to beef up a line that ranked among the worst in recent years and give Jay Cutler the protection he needs.
Chicago also has added Pro Bowl left tackle Jermon Bushrod from New Orleans and guard Matt Slauson from the New York Jets this offseason.
Long is the son of former Raiders star Howie Long and brother of St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long.
Kyle Long reached the NFL even though his college experience was limited.
A strong-armed pitcher at St. Anne's-Belfield high school in Ivy, Va., he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 23rd round in 2008 but wound up going to Florida State on a baseball scholarship. Academic issues forced him to leave FSU, and he also wound up spending a night in jail because of a DUI in January 2009.
Long returned home and enrolled at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, Calif., in 2010 and wound up making the switch from pitcher to defensive end. He moved to the offensive line the following year with the Gauchos, and emerged as a key piece in Chip Kelly's breakneck offense in his lone season with Oregon in 2012 even though he appeared in only 11 games.
Long's draft stock rocketed after an impressive week at the Senior Bowl.
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