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LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears and first-round draft pick Kyle Fuller have agreed to a four-year contract that includes an option for a fifth season.
Fuller, a cornerback from Virginia Tech, was taken with the 14th pick last week. With the deal announced Wednesday, the Bears have seven of the eight players they drafted under contract. The exception is defensive tackle Will Sutton, a third-rounder from Arizona.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Fuller started 42 of 50 games at Virginia Tech and had 129 solo tackles along with six interceptions, 21 pass break ups and four forced fumbles in his career. He had 24 tackles, broke up 10 passes and picked off two in nine games last season.
The Bears have a pair of two-time Pro Bowl cornerbacks in Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman, but Fuller is expected to play on Chicago's nickel defense and special teams at the start of his pro career. He could eventually wind up replacing the 33-year-old Tillman, who's on a one-year contract.
Both starting safety spots are open for the Bears, but general manager Phil Emery made two things clear last week — Fuller will play cornerback and Tillman isn't moving to safety.
Fuller grew up in a family with four Virginia Tech players, including former NFL defensive back Vincent Fuller, who played from 2005-2011 with Tennessee and Detroit. Corey, a wide receiver, was on the Lions' practice squad last year.
The Bears have been moving quickly to sign their draft picks. They agreed to contracts with safety Brock Vereen and quarterback David Fales on Monday and defensive tackle Ego Ferguson, running back Ka'Deem Carey, punter Patrick O'Donnell and offensive tackle Charles Leno, Jr. on Tuesday.
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