The Bears may have already found their replacement for veteran CB Kyle Fuller in former Lions CB Desmond Trufant.
The Chicago Bears may have already found their replacement for veteran cornerback Kyle Fuller.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Bears are signing former Detroit Lions cornerback Desmond Trufant to a one-year deal.
Trufant joins the Bears just one day after news came out that the Bears would be parting ways with their former All-Pro cornerback. Fuller was due to have a cap hit of $20 million in 2021, which certainly made the move a possibility. Chicago saves $11 million by releasing him.
Selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, Trufant spent seven years in Atlanta and became a key player on their defense. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015. Trufant signed with the Detroit Lions last season, but only played in six games due to injury. He picked off one pass and had four passes defended last year and has 14 career interceptions with three forced fumbles over his NFL career, which has spanned eight seasons.
The veteran defensive back likely becomes the starter opposite of Jaylon Johnson and takes over for Fuller, who will either be released or traded this offseason.
Hollister, 27, was an undrafted free agent signee of the New England Patriots in 2017 out of the University of Wyoming. More importantly, that means he played with Bills quarterback Josh Allen in college.
In April 2019, the Patriots traded him to the Seattle Seahawks where he played last season as well. Hollister had 25 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns in 2020.
His best season came in 2019, though. In only 11 games played, Hollister flashed some talent with 41 catches for 349 yards and another three scores.
Pro Football Focus graded Hollister as a solid 64.9 overall mark in terms of his run-blocking ability last year,.
With Hollister’s addition, he could potentially battle incumbent Dawson Knox for playing time in training camp. Hollister would not enter the lineup as a top-tier tight end, such as a player like Zach Ertz, so he’ll have to earn his playing time.
WR Emmanuel Sanders contract details with Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills and general manager Brandon Beane got a bit more creative than one might expect with the contract of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Sanders, 34, reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Bills on Thursday. However, it’s actually a two-year deal with a voided year in 2022.
The measure taken by the Bills is an effort to spread out the salary cap hits to save the team dollars against the lowered cap in 2021. That figure sits at $182.5 million.
According to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, the $6M deal the Bills inked Sanders to has a $2.75M signing bonus which is prorated over two years. This will bring Sanders’ cap hit down to $4.625M for 2021. Sanders’ overall base salary will be $2.8M, along with other workout and roster bonuses sprinkled in.
Sanders’ deal is believed to be the first time Beane has added void years on a contract with a free agent to spread the cap hits out.
The Chicago Bears made an already bad situation worse this offseason with the release of one of their best defensive players in cornerback Kyle Fuller.
While it’s a move that freed up $11 million in cap space — as Fuller was set to make $20 million in 2021 — it’s also a move that doesn’t make a lot of sense for a team that’s supposedly in a win-now mode.
And as far as holding players accountable, Fuller has been Chicago’s most consistent player in the secondary over the last three seasons, which makes his release even more puzzling.
The reaction from Bears fans was bad, very bad, and rightfully so. They understand exactly what’s happening — how GM Ryan Pace got himself into this salary cap mess and now he has to deal with it. Which, unfortunately, means sacrificing some of the best players on your team.
But perhaps even more telling was the reaction from current and former Bears players to the news. Specifically, safety Eddie Jackson, who was frustrated with the decision to part ways with Fuller. His original tweet was deleted, but there were indeed screenshots.
In a now deleted tweet, Eddie Jackson indicates he's fed up with the #Bears for releasing Kyle Fuller. pic.twitter.com/55dmXPaVrB
Former Bears kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson also voiced his feelings about Fuller’s release on Twitter, making it clear that the salary cap isn’t an excuse. That if you wanted to keep a player that you could find a way.
Patterson’s frustration might also stem from the fact that he hasn’t received a contract extension from Chicago, as he remains a free agent.
Things have gone south for this franchise in just a matter of two days. It started with signing quarterback Andy Dalton to a one-year, $10 million deal after the Seattle Seahawks shut the door on a Russell Wilson trade.
It continued Thursday with some big defensive moves, including the decision to part ways with Fuller and allowing defensive tackle Akiem Hicks to seek a trade.
Given everything that’s happened this offseason, it’s not a surprise to see Bears fans irate. They’re completely justified. But you know things are bad when the players start voicing their frustrations with management.
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky has found a new home with the Buffalo Bills, where he’ll serve as the backup to Josh Allen.
Trubisky signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. But he’ll get a chance to work with Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who could certainly help Trubisky turn his career around.
While Chicago ultimately wasted the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, they did get something in return for Trubisky’s departure. Although it’s not a lot considering the current state of things.
According to Over The Cap’s Nick Korte, the Bears are projected to receive a seventh-round compensatory pick in 2022 for Trubisky.
This should’ve been the second 2022 compensatory pick for Chicago. Former Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris signed a three year-deal worth $24.4 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago was projected to receive a fifth-round compensatory pick in 2022.
But with the Bears signing quarterback Andy Dalton, that effectively cancels out that compensatory pick. Which doesn’t help the Dalton situation.
Right now, where it stands, Chicago has a seventh-round compensatory pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has found a new home with the Buffalo Bills, where he’ll serve as the backup to Josh Allen.
Trubisky signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He’ll get a chance to work with Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who could help Trubisky turn his career around.
While Chicago ultimately wasted the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, they did get something in return for Trubisky. Although it’s not a lot considering the current state of things.
According to Over The Cap’s Nick Korte, the Bears are projected to receive a seventh-round compensatory pick in 2022 for Trubisky.
I'm surprised that Mitch Trubisky couldn't get more.
That''ll only be a 7th round valued 2022 compensatory pick on the board to the Bears. https://t.co/P4r6ErsStv
This should’ve been the second projected compensatory pick for Chicago. Former Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris signed a three year-deal worth $24.4 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago was projected to receive a fifth-round compensatory pick in 2022.
But the Bears signed free agent quarterback Andy Dalton, effectively canceling out that compensatory pick.
After the Cowboys signed defensive tackle Carlos Watkins they added more defensive line depth by inking Brent Urban to a one-year deal.
After a quiet start to the first day of NFL free agency on Wednesday, things are picking up for the Dallas Cowboys on the defensive side of the ball, which is where they need help the most.
Early on Thursday, they signed Carlos Watkins to add some depth on the defensive interior. The next move the Cowboys would make, much like Watkins, won’t cause major headlines but it was a solid one. As first reported by his wife, as reliable a source as can be, defensive tackle Brent Urban has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys.
The #Cowboys have agreed to terms with defensive linemen Brent Urban to a 1-year deal, per source.
Urban was a fourth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 after spending a year in the CFL. He spent the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears.
The former Virginia Cavalier had an 83.7 run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in 2020, the third-best for all interior defensive linemen. Seeing as the Cowboys were 30th against the run last season, Urban is a welcome addition.
Urban bringing a solid presence inside will not only add to what the Cowboys have in promising young studs Neville Gallimore and Trysten Hill, but it will assist DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory on the edge with more pressure from the interior.
This is another step in helping a Cowboys defense that was arguably the worst in team history in 2020.
Cowboys agree to terms with veteran edge rusher Tarell Basham.
It got done: Cowboys have agreed to terms with ex-Jets edge defender Tarell Basham, source said. Two-year contract is worth up to $6.5M. https://t.co/PhhnWsj4TD
They might not be making a mighty splash, but the club is certainly taking their doggy stroke paddles very seriously in 2021. Needing help on the defensive front, the Cowboys continued their assault on the defensive line on Thursday evening. Dallas continued to add depth, this time to the edge by agreeing to terms with former New York Jet Tarell Basham.
A former third-round pick for the Indianapolis Colts in 2017, Basham has spent the last three seasons with the Jets. After playing defensive end in college, Basham has spent most of his pro career as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
While the singing of the former third-round pick isn’t a huge splash move for the Dallas defense, Basham could be a versatile depth piece for the Cowboys. Being that he could potentially be a strong-side linebacker or defensive end or even the famed combination between the two, the LEO or REO, in Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme.
The signing could also signal that the Cowboys are potentially ready to move forward without Aldon Smith, who is still a free agent.
It’s been a rough week for Bears fans. Chicago has released CB Kyle Fuller leaving the team vulnerable in the secondary.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
For a team that’s look to “win now,” Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace is doing an awful job of keeping key pieces in place for the 2021 season.
The Bears just delivered the NFL’s biggest cap casualty surprise with the announcement that they’re releasing veteran cornerback Kyle Fuller, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Fuller was due to have a cap hit of $20 million in 2021, which certainly made the move a possibility. Chicago saves $11 million by releasing Fuller.
The #Bears are releasing veteran CB Kyle Fuller, sources say, a cap casualty. In a tough 2021 offseason, this is Chicago’s only cut due to cap space. A former All-Pro corner now hits the market.
Fuller, a two-time Pro Bowler, was a first-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. While it took him some time to get going after a solid rookie season, Fuller earned a second contract with the Bears after an impressive 2017.
He signed a four-year extension in 2018 and went on to have the best season of his career, recording seven interceptions, earning All-Pro honors and establishing himself as one of the league’s best cornerbacks.
With Fuller’s release, the Bears are left without a starting cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson, who is coming off a solid rookie season.
It’s been a rough week for Bears fans. And you can’t help but feel like Chicago has managed to get worse during free agency.
Takeaways from Buffalo Bills Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane during free agency.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane took some time on Thursday to address all the latest happening surrounding the team since the start of free agency this week.
From re-signings of their own last week, to the additions of receiver Emmanuel Sanders and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the duo had plenty to discuss.
With that, here are 12 takeaways from the press conference:
Why Trubisky was signed
Well who saw Trubisky being a Bills quarterback? Turns out he is. On Thursday, Buffalo signed him to a one-year deal and Beane said that Trubisky is going to replace Matt Barkley as the team’s QB2.
So the pressing question: Why?
Beane said the Bills see more similarities to Josh Allen.
“Physically, very talented. Athletically, can do some of the same things that Josh can do with the RPOs that Brian Daboll uses in the system,” Beane said.
The GM added that the stop in Buffalo might be one and done for the 26-year-old as well.
“This is a reset for him, we don’t expect him to be here long term,” Beane said.
Emmanuel Sanders’ fit
McDermott said the addition of Sanders is not something to overthink. The coach essentially said it was John Brown out, Sanders in. The reasoning for adding another piece is because the Bills didn’t want to give their offense any reason to struggle after their 2020 breakout.
“You never want to lose your fastball in terms of what we were able to do last season,” McDermott said.
Matt Milano returning
Candidly, Beane said if it wasn’t for COVID-19 causing financial changes in the league, linebacker Matt Milano would have be re-signed long ago. Maybe even last offseason. But because fans were not allowed at games in 2020, causing revenues and the 2021 salary cap to drop to $182.5 million … it took some time.
“All along, we had hoped to get Matt back. I think if we hadn’t had the pandemic and lowering of the cap and uncertainty of where everything would be, I think we would have gotten Matt extended last year,” Beane said.
