Tag: Kendall Fuller

Analyzing the terms of new Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller’s contract

Contract details for new Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller.

With the Miami Dolphins releasing cornerback Xavien Howard this offseason, the team was in dire need of a veteran cornerback to play opposite Jalen Ramsey, and it seems that they’ve found that in Kendall Fuller.

Fuller, 29, joined the Dolphins on a two-year deal worth $15 million that includes three void years after spending the last four seasons with Washington.

According to Over the Cap, Fuller will receive a $1.21 million base salary (fully guaranteed) in 2024 and a $6.47 million salary (none guaranteed) in 2025. He also got a $6.77 million signing bonus which will be prorated ($1.35 million annually) through the 2028 season. The contract includes $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses (all in 2025) and $50,000 in workout bonuses ($25,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2025).

Fuller has cap hits of $2.59 million in 2024, $8.35 million in 2025 and $4.06 million in 2026.

This contract likely means that Fuller is tied to the team through 2025, but Miami could extend him after the first season if he plays well and shows no signs of decline in this new system and organization.

In 2024, Ramsey and Fuller should form a formidable duo with Cam Smith, Kader Kohou and Nik Needham filling in the depth chart behind them. If Miami’s secondary stays healthy, they could be one of the best in the league.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Best photos of new Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller

Best photos of new Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller.

The Miami Dolphins entered the offseason with the knowledge that they’d be moving on from Xavien Howard after eight seasons, leaving a large hole at the cornerback position opposite Jalen Ramsey.

To fill that hole, Miami signed veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller, who landed in South Florida after playing collegiately at Virginia Tech (2013-15) and professionally for Washington (2016-17, 2020-23) and Kansas City Chiefs (2018-19).

As Dolphins fans familiarize themselves with the team’s newest cornerback, we’ve put together a gallery of photos from his time in Kansas City and Washington.

Take a look:

2 recently released cornerbacks named as possible fits for the Commanders

Two veteran cornerbacks were named as potential fits for the Commanders, including one of the NFL’s best in recent years.

How will the Washington Commanders improve the cornerback position under new head coach Dan Quinn?

Washington spent a first-round pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in the 2023 NFL draft, and he struggled. Third-year cornerback Benjamin St-Juste took a step back in 2023 after a promising second season.

As he had been for the previous three seasons, veteran Kendall Fuller remained the Commanders’ top cornerback.

Now, Fuller is a free agent. He’s also 29, and his knee has some injury concerns. Additionally, Fuller wants a raise from the $10 million he earned annually over the past four seasons, and that raise would be warranted. While the Commanders would love to keep Fuller, he likely makes more sense for a contender on a short-term deal.

Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. come from Dallas, where a Cowboys cornerback led the NFL in interceptions in two of the previous three years. DaRon Bland set an NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season.

Whitt and secondary coach Tom Donatell’s primary goal is to fix Forbes. In his introductory press conference, Whitt said he liked Forbes coming out in last year’s draft.

Regardless, the Commanders must bring in veteran help. Some options exist depending on how much Washington wants to pay.

CBS Sports named 10 recent salary cap casualties and where they could best fit. Two cornerbacks, including Xavien Howard, were named potential fits for the Commanders.

Cornerback is a premier position in today’s NFL, and Howard has been one of the best for years now. He turns 31 in July, but is a four-time Pro Bowler and led the league in interceptions twice — including a 10-interception campaign in 2020. Howard’s streak of three straight Pro Bowls was snapped this past season, but he still recorded 12 passes defensed and one interception in 13 games played.

Howard seems like a long shot for Washington. He will probably earn more than the Commanders are willing to pay. General manager Adam Peters and Quinn will likely target a cheaper veteran and use the draft to add another corner as high as the second round. 

The other potential target was Darious Williams, recently released by the Jaguars.

One of the more underrated cap casualties so far. Williams was set to enter the final season of a three-year, $30 million contract with the Jags. He didn’t have any guaranteed money left on his deal, and his release saves Jacksonville $11.5 million against the cap. While Williams turns 31 this month, he tied for the team lead in interceptions this past season with four. He will absolutely have a market.

Williams is absolutely the type of player Washington could target on a one- or two-year deal with the Commanders.

Washington will be active in free agency, but don’t expect the Commanders to go big-game hunting, instead focusing on team fits and familiarity.

Who is the one free agent the Commanders can’t afford to lose?

Who is the one free agent that the Commanders can’t afford to lose?

Free agency is one week away, and the Washington Commanders have an NFL-high $91.5 million in salary cap space, according to Over the Cap. Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline passed without the Commanders using the tag on anyone. Safety Kam Curl would have been the most likely to receive the tag, but it was not a consideration for Washington this time.

At this time next week, close to 30 Commanders will be free agents. There will be starters and key reserves looking to sign new deals in Washington — or elsewhere.

The Commanders’ top free agents are cornerback Kendall Fuller, wide receiver Curtis Samuel and Curl. Washington has the ability to keep several of its own free agents and add some from the outside, but with a new regime, there will be plenty of changes.

If you’re general manager Adam Peters, who is the one free agent you can’t afford to lose?

CBS Sports recently looked at one free agent from every NFL team that it couldn’t afford to lose. Fuller was the choice for Washington.

Kendall Fuller is one of the best defensive backs available this offseason: His 83.1 PFF defensive grade is the sixth-best among cornerbacks who played at least 100 snaps last season. Fuller, who snagged two interceptions, was one of the few bright spots on what was the NFL’s worst defense last season since their unit was the lowest ranked team in scoring defense (30.5 points per game), total defense (388.9 total yards per game), passing touchdowns (39) and passer rating (105.7).

Keeping Fuller around for the Dan Quinn era could pay massive dividends since Quinn took a Cowboys unit in 2020 that was dreadful and helped flip them into a top five group within a few seasons.

Curl’s age is certainly a reason for him to be the choice. However, we agree with CBS here. Why? Fuller’s age and knees are a concern, but it isn’t easy to find good cornerback play. Fuller may move to the slot or even safety, but he will thrive anywhere he lines up.

The Commanders’ secondary was bad last season, but the new coaching staff will get more out of this group. Sure, Washington will need to add to the defensive backfield, but letting go of its best player (Fuller) wouldn’t be a great start.

Of course, Fuller’s potential return will come down to cost. Washington ha the money, but will it choose to go younger?

6 pending free agents the Commanders need to re-sign

We look at six unrestricted free agents the Commanders should bring back in 2024.

In two weeks, the legal tampering period of the NFL offseason begins. NFL teams can negotiate contracts with impending free agents from other teams for two days, but nothing can be signed until the new league year opens two days later on March 13.

That gives all 32 NFL teams the next two weeks exclusivity in negotiating with their own free agents. The Washington Commanders have 28 free agents, 18 of which are unrestricted free agents.

The Commanders have a new general manager (Adam Peters) and a new coaching staff led by Dan Quinn. So, while other teams have been preparing for free agency, Washington’s new staff has been evaluating the current roster, including its free agents.

How many of the Commanders’ free agents should they retain in 2024?

We name six free agents Washington should re-sign. Not included are wide receiver Curtis Samuel and cornerback Kendall Fuller. It’s not that the Commanders wouldn’t love both players back, but Fuller is older, has some knee concerns, and has earned a raise. Washington can look to the draft to replace Samuel’s productivity for cheaper.

Here are those six free agents, for which we will focus only on the unrestricted free agents.

Could the Commanders be interested in a pair of recently released cornerbacks?

Two veteran cornerbacks were released on Friday. Could either help the Commanders in 2024?

Christmas came early for all 32 NFL teams Friday when the league revealed the 2024 salary cap would be $255.4 million — an increase of $30 million from 2023.

Not only does the higher cap give teams more cash to spend in free agency next month, but it also helps some of those teams needing to create cap space ahead of the new league year.

Some of those teams needing to clear began releasing players this week in preparation for free agency. One of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, Xavien Howard, was released by the Miami Dolphins Friday.

Howard, who will turn 31 in July, was slated to count over $25 million against Miami’s salary cap in 2024. He spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Dolphins, is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, and has led the NFL in interceptions twice.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Howard can still play. He will receive significant interest from around the NFL. Howard played in 13 games last season but scored the lowest grade of his career, according to Pro Football Focus (55.1).

The Washington Commanders need help at cornerback. Kendall Fuller is a free agent, and Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste struggled in 2023.

Does Howard make sense for Washington?

No, for multiple reasons. First, his age. While a different player than Fuller, Howard is almost two years older than Fuller. Also, he doesn’t offer the versatility that Fuller does. Fuller can play outside, in the slot, or at safety. The Commanders could bring Fuller back for what Howard would cost.

But there was another recently released cornerback who could help Washington.

The San Francisco 49ers released cornerback Isaiah Oliver on Friday. Oliver, 27, spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons before spending the 2023 season in San Francisco. New Washington head coach Dan Quinn in Atlanta drafted him. Oliver played for Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in 2020.

The 6-foot-0, 210-pound Oliver isn’t Howard, but he could provide much-needed veteran depth and stability to the cornerback room. In addition to Quinn and Whitt, Commanders GM Adam Peters was San Francisco’s assistant GM last season. Also, new defensive line coach Darryl Tapp was with the 49ers last season, too.

Oliver would be a cheap addition to the secondary and wouldn’t make a dent in Washington’s NFL-leading salary cap space. Per PFF, he received a 67.6 grade in 2023.

The good news is there are enough voices in the organization to know if Oliver would be a worthwhile addition for 2024.

The Commanders will add to the cornerback room, likely through free agency and the draft. St-Juste and Forbes remain an integral part of Washington’s plans, but after last season, the Commanders shouldn’t count on either.

The Lions named as the best free agency fit for only 1 player by ESPN

The Lions named as the best free agency fit for Kendall Fuller, the only player in ESPN’s top-50 free agents with Detroit listed as top fit

Free agency is coming soon, and that means projecting fits for players and teams. In their latest effort, ESPN identified what they believe to be the best landing spot for each of their top 50 free agents.

Despite some very appealing names and fairly obvious fits, only one player was judged to have his best free agent fit with the Detroit Lions. That would be cornerback Kendall Fuller, who played for the last several seasons with the Washington Commanders.

Here’s why they liked Fuller to the Lions,

The Lions allowed 247.4 passing yards per game last season, sixth most in the league. But bringing in a perimeter corner like Fuller could boost the whole profile of the Detroit secondary. With 16 career interceptions (10 in his past four years with Washington) and the savvy technique to play both man and zone, Fuller is a good fit for Aaron Glenn’s system.

As for outgoing Lions, Jonah Jackson is the only Detroit free agent who made the top-50 cut. Jackson’s best fit? The Washington Commanders.

Which 3 free agents named as ‘best fits’ for the Commanders?

Which free agents could “best fit” the Commanders?

It’s been a busy offseason for the Washington Commanders. After firing head coach Ron Rivera last month, the Commanders have hired a new GM (Adam Peters) and coach (Dan Quinn). Quinn then hired an experienced and balanced staff.

Next up is the NFL combine next week in Indianapolis. But the most important date for all NFL teams is the beginning of the new league year on March 13. On that day, teams can sign free agents from other teams. The legal tampering period opens two days before on March 11.

No team has more cap space than the Commanders. Washington has over $70 million in cap space and the ability to create more. While Peters stated the Commanders will build through the draft, free agency offers an opportunity for Washington to shore up some of its holes ahead of the 2024 NFL draft in April.

Former Washington safety Matt Bowen, one of the game’s best analysts for ESPN, recently previewed free agency and named the best team fit for the top 2024 free agents.

We’ll also include where Bowen said Washington cornerback Kendall Fuller, safety Kam Curl and former defensive end Chase Young would best fit in 2024.

 

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent cornerbacks

Top cornerbacks entering free agency in the 2024 offseason

The Carolina Panthers have lacked cornerback depth for a few seasons now. Will this be the offseason where they finally address it?

Here are the top 12 free-agent cornerbacks of 2024:

10 CBs the Colts should target in free agency

Taking a look at free-agent CB options for the Colts.

There is some potential in the cornerback group for the Indianapolis Colts but it’s the same old offseason story of a position group with promise that should add a veteran in case they don’t live up to the billing.

General manager Chris Ballard has taken his chances in this scenario in the past and it hasn’t always worked out for him. If he wants to stabilize the group, then a top-tier corner should be pursued heavily.

If he can’t land one, then a veteran to push the younger corners has to be considered. Ballard also has to keep an eye on nickel corners if he doesn’t re-sign Kenny Moore II and could use one for depth even if he is back for the 2024 season.

We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.

If Chris Ballard decides to add to the position group via free agency, here are 10 players that the front office should target: