Defensive tackle Henry Melton is the last of the franchise tags that I would have deemed "obvious." packers jersey ,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale

Melton has emerged as one of the better young defensive tackles in the NFL, accruing 13 sacks over the past two seasons and finishing 2012 as one of Pro Football Focus' top 10 tackles.

With Chicago's defense not getting any younger, it was critical that they keep Melton in the fold.Wholesale MLB Jerseys ,Buy NFL Cheap Jerseys

However, $8.5 million is quite a bit of cash, and, in a perfect world, the Bears would have locked up Melton to a deal that was both more cap-friendly and afforded both Melton and the Bears more long-term security.