The Kyle Fuller Bears story seems like it’s ready to approach its final chapter. After such a promising start to his Chicago career, the former first round pick has encountered a rollercoaster ride since. Sometimes he’s look real solid, making plays. Others he’d get burned repeatedly by receivers and then had to bow out for an entire season due to a nagging knee injury. Most have given up hope for him.
As yet it’s not entirely clear what the team expects from him. There have been plenty of hints. Some claiming he’ll get a fair shot at playing. Others that he might get moved to safety. All that is known at this point is he’s healthy and faces a serious competition at the cornerback position. Thanks in large part to a series of free agent moves by GM Ryan Pace.
Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper, and Jonthan Banks are expected to stand in his way on the outside. Not to mention second-year man Deiondre Hall. To say nothing of Bryce Callahan and Cre’Von LeBlanc. It looks hopeless for the pessimistic fan or realistic media person. MMQB expert Andy Benoit thought feels differently.
Kyle Fuller Bears run can still be salvaged
He seems to have a greater degree of optimism regarding both Fuller and the Bears cornerbacks in general. Though not an elite group, a run of good health and playing up to their normal standards should give Chicago something to work with.
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If Kyle Fuller healthy and Amukamara plays like he did for much of last yr in JAX, #Bears CB corps will be fine.
— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) June 5, 2017
Is he crazy? Well not necessarily. Having not played for over a year now it’s easy to dismiss Fuller as a lost cause. At the same time that would also dismiss how well he was playing towards the end of 2015. According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks had a 39.1 passer rating when targeting him during the second half of that season. Don’t forget that with him in the lineup they ranked fourth in the NFL against the pass that year. Without him they dropped to 14th.
Then there’s the fact he was their best ball hawk. Chicago had just eight interceptions last season. In his first two years, Fuller produced six of them. So maybe he deserves more credit than he’s gotten. Nobody is saying he’s elite, but perhaps people were too quick to judge his value to the pass defense. If Benoit is correct, Bears fans may be in store for a pleasant surprise come this 2017 season. Through all the narratives, a Kyle Fuller comeback is the most unexpected.
