CHICAGO -- The deadline for the Bears to sign Henry Melton to a multiyear deal is Monday afternoon and unless there is late activity like there was for Matt Forte when he was in the same situation last summer, the defensive tackle once again will be in a contract year.

That's not necessarily a bad thing for the team. Sure, the Bears undoubtedly would like to have an interior pass rusher like Melton secured for several seasons to come. But with the franchise tag at $8.45 million, it has been impossible for the sides to carve out common ground for a deal. Melton's agent, Jordan Woy, has the challenge of working with a formidable negotiator in Cliff Stein. If Melton is in a contract year, like he was in 2012, there will be no questioning his motivation.

It's difficult to find linemen who can rush the quarterback from the inside. Tommie Harris filled the role nicely after he was drafted in 2004. The Bears selected Melton as an end in 2009 and had the foresight to convert him after his rookie season. He has taken off and while he's not as consistently explosive as the Bengals' Geno Atkins, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, he's valuable, particularly for a scheme so predicated on having a disruptive three-technique tackle.

The franchise tag obviously puts Melton near the top in terms of pay at the position, but he doesn't have the bonus money and guarantee that comes with a multiyear deal. Here is a look at the tops at the position:

Haloti Ngata, Ravens, $12.2 million annual average, $35 million guaranteed.

Ahtyba Rubin, Browns, $8.83 million annual average, $18 million guaranteed.

Darnell Dockett, Cardinals, $8.825 million annual average, $30 million guaranteed.

Melton, Bears, $8.45 million annual average, $8.45 million guaranteed.

Vince Wilfork, Patriots, $8 million annual average, $24 million guaranteed.

If Melton doesn't get a big deal, he's going to have to play once again for the guarantees that come with a huge payday and hope the Bears don't entertain the idea of tagging him again in 2014, something that would seem less likely with quarterback Jay Cutler coming out of his contract. To tag Melton in 2014, the Bears would have to up the tender to $10.14 million - 120 percent of his salary this season.

"I am just still working toward being the best," said Melton, who had seven sacks and a team-high 24 quarterback pressures in 2012. "I can definitely be a lot better. ... I am out here working to be great."

Preview: Nose tackle Stephen Paea was more fluid a year ago after arthroscopic knee surgery and he can build off a solid season. Paea made 30 tackles and proved he could get to the quarterback on occasion with 21/2 sacks and eight pressures. His playing time nearly doubled to 56.6 percent of the snaps from his rookie season.

The hope is Nate Collins continues to flourish after playing well in the second half of last season. He hoped for a multiyear contract but returned on a minimum deal for just this season, putting him in a position to play for more security. Similar to a year ago, the team added a pair of veterans in Sedrick Ellis, who got $1 million for one year, and Corvey Irvin. The hope is at least one of them pans out. Ellis, a former first-round pick of the Saints, has considerable experience. The Bears don't have a lot of depth and an injury could create a need for help quickly.