John St. Clair has signed three-year contract with the Cleveland Browns worth a total of $9 million.
The deal contains $600,000$1.25 million guaranteed, which is believed to be less than the Bears had offered in a $4.5 million, three-year contract. St. Clair, however, will earn $2.85 million in the first year of the deal, and that represents 63 percent of the total value of the Bears’ offer.
Now, the Bears will have to venture out into the market and find a right tackle or draft one high in the draft or both.
Undrafted college free agent Cody Balogh played right tackle in minicamp Tuesday.
Kevin Shaffer, Marvel Smith and Orlando Pace are just a few options on the market the Bears could consider.
The St. Clair deal on the surface appears to be a series of one-year contracts.
