Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley just got paid.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Gurley and the Rams agreed to a new four-year, $60 million contract with $45 million in guarantees.
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Gurley's contract will have a long-reaching impact on the running back market, with names like Le'Veon Bell and David Johnson quickly coming to mind. But the Bears have their own productive back who's inching closer to a contract year and, when stacked up against the running backs demanding big money, has his own legitimate claim for a big pay day.
Jordan Howard is entering the third year of a four-year contract and has set two Bears records in his first two seasons. In 2016, he set the franchise rookie record for rushing yards in a season. Last year, he became the first Bear to start a career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Howard may not get the same publicity as Gurley, but he's been just as productive as the Rams' bell cow over the last two years. His 2,435 rushing yards tops Gurley's 2,190 since 2016.
And let's not forget that it was Howard who finished second in the NFL in rushing behind only Ezekiel Elliott two seasons ago.
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The Bears are in a great salary cap situation heading into 2018 largely because the starting quarterback and franchise running back are on first-contract salaries. That won't last forever.
Howard has a cap hit of only $782,007 this year.
This is a big season for Howard's future in Chicago. In fact, if he has a monster year, he could price himself out of the Bears' plans.
You can bet Ryan Pace is paying close attention to this wave of running back negotiations. He has no choice. He's steamrolling toward one of his own.
Howard's eventual contract demands could conjure bad memories of the Alshon Jeffery debacle, one that saw the team's top young receiver leave town over money.
No one wants to see that happen with Howard, espectially if he has another productive year.