Two more top-10 draft picks sign, but not Bears LB Roquan Smith — yet

SHARE Two more top-10 draft picks sign, but not Bears LB Roquan Smith — yet
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Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith levels Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. (AP)

Two more top-10 draft picks signed with their teams Wednesday, leaving Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith one of two remaining first-round draftees yet to sign a contract.

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who were drafted fourth and seventh, respectively, signed with their teams. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, who was drafted third, remains unsigned.

While Smith is set to receive a contract set by the collective-bargaining agreement — worth an estimated $18 million — his agents and the Bears have disagreed about smaller details. Typical hangups include the cash flow of a signing bonus or offset language, which dictates how much money a team would owe if it cuts a player and he signs elsewhere.

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The Bears return to training camp Thursday and will hold three consecutive padded practices. They will play their first preseason game next Thursday against the Ravens in Canton, Ohio.

Smith didn’t report to camp with his fellow rookies July 16. Veterans arrived three days later.

Want your Bears training camp update without delay? Each day of summer practice, Sun-Times Bears’ beat writers Patrick Finley, Adam Jahns and Mark Potash will share exclusive insights on the workout and interviews in a livestream conversation 1 p.m. daily through August 12. Catch their live analysis and ask questions on Twitter: @suntimes_sports or follow Sun-Times Sports on Periscope to be notified of each live report.

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