An All-Pro corner player unexpectedly hits the open market. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Bears release the veteran Kyle Fuller.
It appears that the transaction was largely a financial decision, with Rapoport noting that “this is the only cut in Chicago due to the space of the lid.”Dianna Russini on ESPN tweets that Bears wanted Fuller to take a “very significant payout,” but the player preferred to test the open market. The 29-year-old had to pay $ 14 million next season and had an expensive cap of $ 20 million.
The first-round pick in 2014 became a favorite of Chicago fans, winning a pair of Pro Bowl appearances and a first-team All-Pro team leader during his seven-year stint with the organization. Fuller leaves the organization in fourth place on the franchise list of all time in defended passes (82), and ranks in the top 20 for approaches (390) and interceptions (19).
After the option for the fifth year fell for the 2018 season, Fuller was hit with the transition label. He ended up with a four-year, $ 56 million contract with the Packers, including $ 18 million guaranteed. The Bears equalized the contract, keeping Fuller under contract until the 2021 season. Outside of last season, the front office reworked the veteran’s contract. While the move saved the team $ 6.5 million at the time, it meant that Fuller’s maximum hit in 2021 would jump from $ 18.5 million to $ 20 million.
While Fuller failed to win the third straight row in the Pro Bowl, he still had a productive campaign in 2020. The corner kick started all 16 games for Chicago, making 65 tackles, eight assists and an interception. He also began losing the Chicago playoffs to the Saints.
Fuller will definitely be a popular target now that he has reached the free agency. William Jackson (Washington, three years, $ 42 million), Shaquill Griffin (Jaguari, three years, 40 million USD) and Patrick Peterson (Vikings, one year, $ 10 million) were among the best free agent defenders heading to the free agency. Cornerbacks place Xavier Rhodes and Kevin King remains unsigned.
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