An All-Pro cornerback is unexpectedly hitting the open market. Ian Rapoport reports from NFL.com (via Twitter) that the Bears are launching veteran Kyle Fuller.
It appears that the transaction was primarily a financial decision, with Rapoport noting that “this is the only cut in chicago due to the boundary space.”ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweets that the Bears wanted Fuller to make a “very significant pay cut”, but the player preferred to test the open market. The 29-year-old paid $ 14 million next season and had an expensive $ 20 million limit.
The choice of the first round of 2014 became a fan favorite in Chicago, earning two appearances in the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro nomination for the first team during his seven-year stint in the organization. Fuller leaves the organization in fourth place in the all-time list of defended passes (82), and he is ranked in the top 20 in tackles (390) and interceptions (19).
After being denied his fifth-year option for the 2018 season, Fuller was attacked with the transition tag. He ended up signing a $ 56 million contract with the Packers for four years, including a guaranteed $ 18 million. The Bears kept the contract, keeping Fuller under contract until the 2021 season. In the last off-season, the board revamped the veteran’s contract. Although the move saved the team $ 6.5 million at the time, it meant that Fuller’s 2021 cap would jump from $ 18.5 million to $ 20 million.
Although Fuller did not get his third consecutive wave in the Pro Bowl, he still had a productive 2020 campaign. The cornerback started all 16 games for Chicago, compiling 65 tackles, eight defending passes and an interception. He also started the Chicago playoff loss to the Saints.
Fuller will certainly be a popular target now that he has reached the free agent. William Jackson (Washington, three years, $ 42 million), Shaquill Griffin (Jaguars, three years old, $ 40 million) and Patrick Peterson (Vikings, one year, $ 10 million) were among the top free agent cornerbacks who went to the free agency. Cornerbacks like Xavier Rhodes and Kevin king remain unsigned.
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