The danger was put out there a couple of days ago. With the Chicago Bears hurting for any sort of salary cap space, it was likely they may have to sacrifice one of their cornerstones on defense. In the end, it appears that will be Kyle Fuller. Carrying a $20 million cap hit, the Bears just couldn’t afford to keep him. With no extension possible and no trade market, GM Ryan Pace made the decision to release him.
This is a tough blow for the Bears defense. They were already showing signs of wear and tear last season. Now their best cornerback is gone. Recovering from that loss is going to be difficult. One can safely assume it won’t happen this year. The silver lining is they do have Jaylon Johnson who flashed tons of potential in 2020 as a rookie. Though his long-term health is a valid question mark.
The #Bears are releasing veteran CB Kyle Fuller, sources say, a cap casualty. In a tough 2021 offseason, this is Chicago’s only cut due to cap space. A former All-Pro corner now hits the market.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2021
There is no getting around it.
Finding reasons to believe the Bears will be relevant in 2021 is getting more and more difficult by the day. Their roster hasn’t improved. Maybe Andy Dalton is a mild upgrade at quarterback but that’s up for debate. Meanwhile, the defense loses one of its three best players while the other two are into their 30s now. It is difficult to determine if there is any sort of plan in place.
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The Bears aren’t operating like a team that is trying to win this year. More like a team that is resigned to a rough season but hopes they can reset quickly in 2022. Fuller’s release brings an additional $11 million cap space. That should allow them to complete their other signings that aren’t official yet.
Kyle Fuller will go down as one of the best in Bears history
He never quite lived up to the legacy of Charles Tillman whom he replaced, but Fuller ended up being arguably the best draft pick the Bears made in the 2010s. One thing is for sure. Releasing him certainly isn’t going to make Pace more popular. His credibility and respect among Bears fans are at an all-time low. It’s hard to know what he can possibly do to rescue this team from sinking into obscurity.
Kyle Fuller was a lynchpin for their defense. Can they somehow still be a top 10 unit without him? Well considering they weren’t last even with him? That provides a clear enough answer. New defensive coordinator Sean Desai is being handed a tough situation before he even gets settled in. One can imagine the Bears will try to find some help at the position over the next month and a half.
It’s just a heartbreaking situation.
Would this have happened if COVID-19 hadn’t caused the cap to drop? Probably not. It’s a tragic case of real life wreaking havoc in business. Fuller will no doubt find a new home quickly and remain effective for the next couple of years. All the Bears can do is bite the bullet and try to continue tweaking the roster the best they can.