GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 15: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Even the Bears were surprised that Kyle Fuller ended up with the Broncos instead of the Packers.
The Chicago Bears decided to release defensive back Kyle Fuller earlier this week and he was immediately snatched up by the Denver Broncos.
The move itself was a shocker and was yet another surprising decision made this offseason as teams look to cut salary to free up cap space. The two-time Pro Bowler was not on the open market for long and as it turns out, the Bears had fears that they had just sent him to a division rival.
Bears convinced Fuller was headed to Packers
The Bears cutting Fuller only for him to head to the Packers would have been yet another knock against GM Ryan Pace. It turns out the Broncos were the team to offer the best pitch. Vic Fangio being the head coach in Denver likely made the decision easier on a one-year deal.
Fuller was an obvious fit for the Packers. The team offered him a four-year, $56 million deal back in 2018 when he was a restricted free agent. The Bears decided to match and ended up releasing him this offseason.
So it makes sense why the Bears thought the Packers would swoop in and grab Fuller. But actually hitting the open market opened up his options and he liked what he saw in Denver.
The Packers are one of the many NFL teams dealing with a tough cap situation. That may have made it difficult to immediately figure out a plan for Fuller once the Bears decided to cut him loose.
Bears fans have to be wondering if there is a plan in place to win in 2021. Questionable moves continue to be made and now there is word the team was preparing for their arch rival to sign Fuller in what was a cost-saving move. That did not happen, but the concern will not go away as Pace tries to convince fans the team is indeed set up to win in 2021.