LAKE FOREST—Earlier Monday we listed the franchise-tagged players most likely to receive a contract extension before Monday’s 3 p.m. CT negotiation deadline. Matt Forte topped that list, and with good reason: the Bears running back agreed to a four-year deal.Sean Jenson of the Sun-Times reported the deal first. CBSSports.com’s Mike Freeman confirms reports that the deal is worth approximately $8 million a year.

Earlier this offseason, we saw a number of contracts to big-name running backs. The Eagles gave LeSean McCoy a five-year deal worth a reported $45 million. Arian Foster also signed a five-year deal worth $43.5 million with the Texans this offseason. And Marshawn Lynch signed a four-year deal worth $31 million.

So, depending on how much guaranteed money Forte got, he may ultimately be slotted correctly in terms of the contract. He’s worth more than Lynch (in my opinion) but clearly isn’t as good as McCoy or Foster, regardless of how much of the Bears offense ran through him.

Additionally, Forte was operating from a standpoint that lacked serious leverage: he had been tendered by the Bears, he’s got injury history (recent injury history no less), and the Bears inked Michael Bush this offseason in order to protect themselves from possibly missing Forte for any length of time.