Williams agrees to five-year, $16 million contract with Bears

Updated: July 23, 2008, 2:30 PM ET
By John Clayton | ESPN.com

The Chicago Bears reached an agreement Wednesday afternoon with first-round pick Chris Williams, who is projected to be the team's starting left tackle.

With the first practice starting at 3 p.m., Williams reached an agreement on a five-year, $16 million contract that included a little less than $10 million in guarantees. Because he was staying in the area near the team's training camp, Williams was able to report on time and is expected to practice Wednesday.

The former Vanderbilt offensive lineman was targeted by the Bears, who plan to move John Tait from left to right tackle. Players were expected to report at 12 p.m. Tuesday night, but Williams had not reached an agreement by then and didn't report.

Talks intensified Wednesday morning and a deal came together right before lunch. The contract allows the Bears to start their summer training camp with all of their draft choices signed.

Rex Grossman is expected to take the opening snap of the first practice with the first team after winning a coin toss against Kyle Orton. Orton and Grossman are battling in a tie for the quarterback job.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

John Clayton

NFL senior writer
  • Senior NFL writer and commentator
  • Joined ESPN in 1995
  • Member of the writers' wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

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