Most Bears fans don’t understand the team’s decision to cut cornerback Kyle Fuller.
The man himself does — or at least could read the free-agent market as though it was a receiver on a slant route.
“I think I understood, I guess, everything that was going on,” he said Monday via Zoom. “I just took it for what it was.”
He knew the Bears were squeezed by a $182.5 million salary cap that was 8% smaller than the one in 2020. He knew about their long-term commitments to other defensive players. Seeing reduced prices for other veterans around the league, too, helped Fuller’s stoicism when examining the Bears’ decision.
“Really, just understanding what’s going on around the league and the business side of it,” he said. “That was really it.”
Fuller could have stayed by renegotiating or extending his contract. The Bears asked him to take a paycut, and he considered it.
“I think in the situation, with what’s going on around the league, I had to do that with every team,” he said. “That’s something that I just prepared myself for.”
The Bears’ interpretation of Fuller’s market value was proven correct: he would have made $14 million in 2021, the final season of his Bears contract. When Fuller was let go, he quickly signed with the Broncos for $9.5 million over one year. That was likely more than what the Bears tried to trim his salary to — but still far less than $14 million.
They are poorer on the field, though, for having cut him, and are left searching for a cheap way to replace the two-time Pro Bowl player. They signed veteran Desmond Trufant but figure to pursue more help on the free-agent market or in the draft — or both.
Fuller can benefit from the Bears’ decision. He’ll play for former coordinator Vic Fangio and position coach Ed Donatell — now the Broncos’ head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively — with whom he had his greatest success. In 2018, Fuller tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions and the Bears posted the most dominant defense in the league.
Fuller cited a comfort with Fangio’s system as one reason for picking the Broncos.
“We’re going to do everything we can to get Kyle back to that 2018 form,” Fangio said.
Fuller will hit the free agent market again in a year. If he plays well this season, he’ll land more than a one-year deal next time around.
“I’m just looking forward to continuing my career,” Fuller said. “Where it goes next, I think this year will tell a lot.”
