The Green Bay Packers are looking to solve their cornerback problem while making one of their biggest rivals weaker. The Packers have signed Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller to an offer sheet.
#Packers have signed #Bears CB Kyle Fuller to an offer sheet. Chicago placed transition tag ($12.9067 million on Fuller). So things will get interesting in the NFC North as the rivals compete for the former first-round draft pick.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 16, 2018
Fuller, a former first-round pick, was given the transition tag by the Bears before free agency opened. That isn’t quite as restrictive as the franchise tag, which essentially ties a player to his team for the next year, but it’s also not as expensive.
What we do know is the transition tag is worth $12.9 million for this season. The Bears said they tagged Fuller in order to facilitate time to work out a long-term deal with him. They obviously want him back. However, the Packers have obviously beaten them to the punch.
The Bears will now have five days to decide if they want to match the Packers offer, in which case they keep Fuller. Or, if the offer is too rich for their taste, the Packers will bring on Fuller.
In either case, it’s a win-win for the Packers. Get the cornerback they want and make a rival weaker or make said rival pay their a player top dollar.
Fuller had 69 tackles and two interceptions for the Bears in 2017. He also knocked down a stellar 22 passes. Fuller is also available. He’s played in all 16 games in three of his four seasons in the league.
It’s one hell of a bold move by Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst.
And just like that, the dream died.
#Packers have signed #Bears CB Kyle Fuller to an offer sheet. Chicago placed transition tag ($12.9067 million on Fuller). So things will get interesting in the NFC North as the rivals compete for the former first-round draft pick.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 16, 2018
It’s interesting that the offer was so easy to match. As has been said, typically teams try to make the contract so the player’s current team find it unpalatable.
Are we supposed to like Gutekunst or not? This shit is confusing, man. He is either ballsy or an idiot depending on who wrote the article.
I guess it depends on what he offered Fuller. I mean, why make an offer if you think the Bears would just match it. So maybe you overpay to get a guy, desperate times man. You can’t go in the season with a somewhat struggling 2nd year rook, and nobody behind him and have to rely on drafting another guy high. Trading DR put them in a tight spot.
When all is said and done, the Packers are going to increase their league lead on players making over 10 mill. If they were gonna go this route, they should have just signed Gilmore a year ago.
Plus they have to terminate another player and his high salary. Randall…where you at bro?
So he’s available, except for the 25% of his games he missed when he wasn’t available?
Just kidding Monty, that was out of line and i’d like to apologize, i lost my head and couldn’t resist.
Still friends?
So I guess they will cut Cobb to make this move possible?
I’m thinking maybe clay. Or restructure some deals
You don’t just cut people willy nilly, you offer him the vet minimum.
Pay attention man!!
This is mind boggling! Plays these kind of games and let’s the best guy out there now sign a 1 yr deal for 7 million? It’s like INSANITY!
Strong move by Gute… Make the Bears pay-up. As was written. Win-win
Make the Bears screw-up free agency cause you know they’ll screw-up a draft. I mean, the Packers draft low & screw-up some drafts, but the Bears draft 12 or better every season & can’t ever hit on a high pick.
We’re probably not the best voice to be critiquing another teams bad drafts.
The Packers made a serious offer, with an average of 14 million/year. But only 18 mill was guaranteed, which didn’t seem to frighten the Bears much. If the Packers offered him more in GTD money, they might have got him.
Some think we were in a win/win here. Win to get him, win to make the bears pay our price.
But….the bears are a 5-11 team. If we made them pay Fuller 1 mill/year more than they wanted, does that seriously change anything?
The Packers have three problems in the NFC NORTH, in this order….1)Packers…2)queens….3) Lions. The Bears are inconsequential.
After all, they do still suck.