The post-Brian Urlacher era has begun for the Bears and they announced Thursday that they’ve got one of his possible successors under contract.
Jon Bostic, taken with the 50th overall pick in the second round last month, has agreed to a contract with the team a day before the start of their rookie minicamp. Bostic’s signing leaves offensive lineman Kyle Long, Chicago’s first-round pick, as the only member of their draft class without a contract.
Bostic is expected to compete with former Bronco D.J. Williams for the middle linebacker job this spring and summer. He was a very productive inside linebacker for Florida, racking up 19 tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks and five interceptions during his three years as a Gator.
Whether or not he wins the job right away, the Bears are looking to Bostic as a key player in their transition to a defense without Urlacher. Bostic was the first linebacker picked before the third round since the Bears took Urlacher ninth overall in 2000, leaving him as the likeliest heir to the job in the middle of the Chicago defense.