Kyle Long's Contract Option Picked Up by Bears

The Chicago Bears announced Friday they exercised the fifth-year option on offensive tackle Kyle Long. 

The option will keep him under contract through the 2017 season. According to Spotrac, Long is expected to make $777,158 in 2016 with a $1,104,264 signing bonus, but his figures for the 2017 season have not been disclosed as of yet. 

Regardless of figures, Long was happy with the extension:

Long was selected 20th overall by the Bears the 2013 draft and has become a staple on the right side of their offensive line ever since. 

The 27-year-old has started 47 of a possible 48 games during the first three years of his career while being selected to three Pro Bowls.

He was able to keep up his high level of play even though he moved outside from right guard to right tackle. 

It looks like Long is moving back to his original position after the Bears signed Bobby Massie, who told Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com that "I was brought here to play right tackle."

Long was thrilled with the news:

Long and Co. can now focus on protecting Jay Cutler and turning things around in Chicago. 

The Bears finished 6-10 last season and are moving forward with a new starting running back in Jeremy Langford after veteran Matt Forte wasn't re-signed. So Long will be tasked with keeping Chicago's newest offensive weapons safe and upright.

Given his success over his first three years with the Bears, though, the next order of business for Long should be to work out a long-term extension to ensure that he stays in Chicago for the foreseeable future.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.