Gregg Rosenthal of ProFootballTalk.com reports the St. Louis Rams have signed third-round cornerback Jerome Murphy.

According to Rosenthal, Murphy received a signing bonus of $937,739, making the base value of his four-year contract worth $2.727 million dollars. Murphy, who was chosen with the 97th overall pick, and the first pick in the third round, is the highest pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to sign a contract.

In 52 games at South Florida, a school record, the 6-0, 196-pound Murphy totaled 201 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and a 1/2 a quarterback sack. A reserve and nickel corner his first two seasons with the Bulls, Murphy moved into the starting lineup in 2008, and over his final two seasons, totaled 144 tackles with 8 interceptions and 13 pass break-ups.

Murphy ran a 4.51-40 at the Combine, and displayed outstanding athleticism by posting a 38" vertical leap and 10'07" broad jump. Murphy is a tough, physical corner who could just Justin King for the Rams' starting right cornerback job this summer.

Murphy is the third of the Rams' 11 picks in the 2010 NFL Draft to sign a contract.