Before the 2007 NFL draft began, the Bears identified three players beyond their top picks that they hoped would be available when their turns came.
One was Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe, whom they landed with the first of their two third-round picks, at No. 93 overall.
Wolfe became the first 2007 draft choice to sign on Tuesday, with a four-year contract worth approximately $2.3 million that includes a $623,000 bonus.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Wolfe said. “The one thing I’m excited about is I’m here and I’m working out with the guys. I get to get a feel for what’s going on and that’s just going to put me that much more ahead. Going into training camp, I’ll be ahead of the learning curve.”
The Bears clearly have plans for Wolfe, regarded by many teams as too small to be anything but a returner. But the Bears see him as a running back with receiving skills, and those skills were in evidence at the rookie mini-camp earlier this month.
Agent Rick Smith and college scouting director Greg Gabriel, now among the finalists for a top personnel post with the New York Giants, worked to get Wolfe to Halas Hall for a private workout before the draft, permissible because Wolfe is a local player from a local school.
His workout, plus the strength he demonstrated at the NFL scouting combine at Indianapolis, convinced the Bears to invest a first-day pick on one of college football’s most productive backs.
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jmullin@tribune.com
