Green Bay Packers: With Expectations Tempered, Let’s Keep Our Eyes on Kyle Fuller
By Paul Bretl
For the most part this offseason I haven’t really dived into free-agent options for the Green Bay Packers. I’ve discussed positions to address, but in a year where there is limited cap space and we didn’t really know what the free-agent market from a pricing standpoint was going to look like, I’ve anticipated that any addition the Packers do make — and I do expect them to make an addition or two — is going to be of the bargain variety.
However, when it was reported by Ian Rapoport that the Chicago Bears decided to part ways with cornerback Kyle Fuller, I do admit that my interest was piqued.
As we are all aware, cornerback is the biggest need on this Green Bay Packers’ team this offseason with no viable running mates for Jaire Alexander currently on the roster. Options at the moment include Josh Jackson, KeiVarae Russell, Stanford Samuels, and Ka’dar Hollman.
If you recall, the Green Bay Packers made a run at Fuller a few years ago when Chicago had used the transition tag on him.
According to Tom Silverstein of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Packers offered Fuller a four-year deal worth $56 million and $18 million guaranteed. The Bears would match the offer, and Fuller would stay put.
Since then, the 29-year-old Fuller had a career year with the Bears in 2018, being named an All-Pro, and has been steady since. Over the last two seasons, he has been targeted 179 times, allowing a completion rate of 62.5 percent at 12.4 yards per catch. Fuller has also tallied four interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and a cumulative passer rating when targeted of 90.2, according to Pro Football Focus ($).
A few weeks ago, GM Brian Gutekunst did say that for the right player, the Packers do have a big move in them. Now, did the Aaron Jones signing fall into that category? Perhaps. However, what we do know is that if Gutey says something, we should believe him–the Jones signing and Preston Smith pay cut are prime examples of this recently.
In order to make this signing happen along with accomodating other unaccounted for expenses such as the draft class, practice squad, etc., the Green Bay Packers would have to extend Davante Adams and restructure Aaron Rodgers’ deal–two things that already may be taking place.
As someone who played under Vic Fangio for a few seasons, Fuller would have a good understanding of the defensive system that Joe Barry is bringing, which is a spin-off of what Fangio runs.
But do you know who else runs that style of defense? Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos, of course. And Denver has a lot more cap space than the Packers and is expected to aggressively pursue Fuller.
According to a source from Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, they do not expect the Packers to make a run at Fuller this time around. So like the title of this article says, expectations should be tempered given the Green Bay Packers’ salary cap situation.
With that said, given their need at the position and past interest in Fuller, I do think that this is worth monitoring as well.