Bears officially release CB Kyle Fuller, signs immediately with the Broncos

The Chicago Bears have officially released cornerback Kyle Fuller after they were unable to find a trade partner, according to the NFL’s transaction wire on Saturday.

Though previously reported that the Bears would be releasing the two-time Pro Bowl corner, the Bears held off the move in hopes of finding a trade destination for Fuller. Even though a crowded market is to be expected for him, no teams proved willing to give up draft capital to secure his services before he hit free agency.

The Denver Broncos may have had a ‘wink-wink’ deal in place with Fuller, because moments after he was released he inked a 1-year contract with them for $9.5 million. He is now reunited with his former defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, who is now the head coach in Denver.

Fuller’s departure served as a means for the Bears to free up cap space in an offseason where they find themselves with very little of it. His absence in the secondary projects to be a massive one, and a lack of draft capital in return is a disappointing turnout for Chicago.

Without Fuller on the roster, cornerback projects as a major need for the Bears going forward. Jaylon Johnson is the only returning starter to the position, with both Fuller and nickelback Buster Skrine no longer on the team. The team signed Desmond Trufant to a one-year deal on Friday, but he projects as a stop-gap option at the position. One would expect them to target a defensive back relatively early in the 2021 NFL Draft.