Tag: 2021 free agency tracker

Grading CB Kyle Fuller’s deal with the Broncos: A

Cornerback Kyle Fuller is reuniting with Vic Fangio, and it might bring back the opportunism in his game.

On Friday, the Bears announced their intention to release cornerback Kyle Fuller due to salary cap concerns. Fuller, who was in the last year of the four-year, $56 million deal he signed in 2018, was due to cost the team $20 million against the $182.5 million cap in 2021. The Bears tried to trade Fuller (most notably to the Seahawks in the Russell Wilson trade that didn’t happen), but eventually released him. Very soon after, Fuller signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal with the Broncos ($9 million guaranteed), which reunites him with Denver head coach Vic Fangio, Fangio was Fuller’s defensive coordinator from 2015 through 2018.

The Broncos have spent a ton in free agency this year to maintain and enhance their secondary. Denver made Justin Simmons the NFL’s highest-paid safety with a four-year, $61 million contract. They signed former Bills, Eagles, and Washington cornerback Ronald Darby to a three-year, $30 million contract, and now, the Fuller deal.

In 2020, for a Bears defense that often seemed at odds with itself schematically, Fuller allowed 45 receptions on 80 targets for 512 yards, 137 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, one interception, six passes defensed, and an opponent passer rating of 87.1. In 2018, his last year under Fangio, Fuller allowed 69 catches on 113 targets for 819 yards, 264 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, a league-leading seven interceptions and 21 passes defensed, and an opponent passer rating allowed of 69.2.

Even in an off year for Chicago’s defense, Fuller was still able to prevent big plays, as he did against Michael Thomas of the Saints in the Bears’ wild-card loss.

Working with Fangio again might bring out the opportunism in Fuller’s game.

Grading RB Chris Carson re-signing with the Seahawks: B

The Seahawks brought running back Chris Carson back on a team-friendly deal.

On Friday, the Seahawks re-committed to their philosophy of balanced offense by re-signing running back Chris Carson to what was originally reported as a three-year, $24.625 million deal with voidable years.

The mechanics of the deal are a bit more team-friendly.

Since he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Oklahoma State, Carson has been almost a cult hero among both Seahawks Twitter — which is something of a legend in its own right — and fantasy football Twitter. Of course, back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons might also have something to do with that, which Carson posted in both 2018 and 2019. Back during that 2019 campaign, Carson ran for 1,230 yards on 278 carries, and also caught 37 passes for 266 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

There are some concerns with Carson going forward. First there is the injury history. Carson’s 2019 season was cut short with a hip fracture, and he also missed time this past year with a sprained foot. Then there are the fumble woes. This dates back to his time with Oklahoma State, where he was benched for losing the ball, and continues into his NFL days. Back in 2019 Carson fumbled seven times — including four lost fumbles — and was also inconsistent at the mesh point with quarterback Russell Wilson, which led to some fumbles that were charged to the quarterback.

Those two factors were going to play in any negotiation this offseason. But the opportunity to re-add a running back with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons is going to intrigue most front offices, and no front office more than Seattle’s.

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Grading CB Troy Hill’s deal with the Browns: A

The Browns are improving their secondary by poaching ex-Rams defensive backs, and it’s working out well.

The Browns have done a lot to improve their secondary this week by poaching former Rams defenders. First, they signed safety John Johnson III to a three-year, $33.75 million deal with $24 million guaranteed, and now, they’ve signed cornerback Troy Hill to a four-year, $24 million contract. Hill adds to a cornerback group with Denzel Ward — one of the best players in the league at his position — and Greedy Williams, who’s dealing with nerve damage in his shoulder. If Hill is aligned in the slot in Cleveland’s defense, that’s a good thing. Last season, per Pro Football Focus, Hill allowed 41 catches on 55 targets for 373 yards, 181 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 75.8.

He’s also a fine addition to a defense that played some sort of zone coverage on 453 of 584 pass coverage snaps.

Hill has been one of the NFL’s better zone cornerbacks over the last two seasons, and he was especially effective in that role under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in 2020. I had Hill as my eighth-best zone cornerback for the 2019 season after he allowed just seven receptions on 20 targets for 118 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a Positive Play Rate of 35% — the fifth-best rate in the NFL for cornerbacks targeted 20 or more times. That was under Wade Philips in a system where the Rams played zone on 57% of their defensive snaps. Under Staley, the Rams played some sort of zone coverage on 66% of their pass defense snaps, so Hill’s increased effectiveness was a boon.

Last season, Hill gave up 27 receptions on 47 zone targets for 307 yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, a league-high 119 interception return yards and two touchdowns, and a Positive Play Rate of 48.9. More volume, but more interceptions, and more big plays the other way.

This interception and 35-yard touchdown return in Week 13 against the Cardinals has Hill jumping a Kyler Murray pass to Andy Isabella, and Hill’s awareness is a hallmark of his play as usual.

Hill was less effective in man coverage last season, allowing 12 receptions on 19 targets for 160 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, but he’s an excellent fit for a Browns defense that is improving in all the right places.