With Kyle Fuller on his way out, the Chicago Bears needed to make a decision on what to do at cornerback. Losing somebody of that caliber is almost impossible to replace. The best thing for them to do is try to find a veteran with proven experience who can fill the void for the time being. That appears to be exactly what they had in mind according to Adam Schefter.
Chicago came to terms with former Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant. A former Pro Bowler, he had a standout season in 2019 for the Falcons with four interceptions in just nine games. Last season he signed in Detroit and got off to a good start but was hampered by injuries. He turns 31 in September and likely comes at a reduced cost. It’s a calculated risk but if he could be a solid one-year stopgap for the Bears.
Former Lions’ CB Desmond Trufant is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2021
Don’t get it twisted.
The Bears are not saying Trufant will erase Fuller’s memory. This is a maneuver by the team to keep the starting lineup as strong as possible for the time being. He buys GM Ryan Pace some breathing room to begin searching for a younger, more long-term solution. They also have Jaylon Johnson who showcased all the signs of a future stud cornerback himself.
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He and Trufant could make a solid combination. Again, if health prevails. The 30-year old dealt with hamstring issues in 2020 that constantly had him missing games. Johnson missed the end of the season with a shoulder problem. So the Bears are gambling that these two can stay out of the blue tent as much as possible.
Trufant likely understands the shoes he’s filling with Kyle Fuller
He just got done trying to do the same thing in Detroit. The Lions traded their star cornerback Darius Slay prior to his arrival. Now Fuller is exiting as well. No doubt he hopes this time will be different. One can argue the Bears have a much more talented supporting cast than the Lions did. So that should help. He can be a sticky cover corner when all the pistons are firing. One with a great sense of where the football is. In 103 career games, he has 14 interceptions and 83 passes defended.
Rest assured this is not likely to be the only move Chicago makes at cornerback this offseason. It’s a safe bet they could add another body to the mix in the draft. They still have no clear solution at nickel corner following the exit of Buster Skrine. One can safely assume that job belongs to Duke Shelley for the time being while Kindle Vildor and Tre Roberson will battle for snaps on the outside too. The Bears will miss Kyle Fuller, but they can’t afford to feel depressed about it.
The NFL doesn’t wait for anybody.
This upcoming 2021 draft class appears deep at the position. Pace has a strong track record of uncovering solid defensive back talent. It would be shocking to see him grab somebody anywhere in the 1st to 3rd rounds. There will be instant or eventual starters scattered in that area. For the time being though, it looks like Trufant and Johnson will be the combination moving forward.