Packers sign CB Kyle Fuller to offer sheet, per report
The Green Bay Packers are making more moves, this time for Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller.
When Brian Gutekunst said he planned to use every avenue of player acquisition, he was telling the truth.
As Green Bay Packers general manager, Gutekunst has already signed two free big-name free agents and struck a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Now he’s after Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Packers have signed Fuller to an offer sheet.
#Packers have signed #Bears CB Kyle Fuller to an offer sheet. Chicago placed transition tag ($12.9067 million on Fuller). So things will get interesting in the NFC North as the rivals compete for the former first-round draft pick.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 16, 2018
So what does this mean?
The Packers have now offered Fuller a multi-year deal, structured to a way that suits their cap. As the Bears placed the transition tag on Fuller, they must now match the Packers’ offer to keep him. If they don’t, Fuller will become a Packer.
It’s a smart piece of business at Gutekunst. One possibility is he lands an experienced, talented cornerback to pair with Kevin King. If not, he forces the Bears to take on a bigger contract.
Considering Chicago has already made a number of big free agency splashes — including signing wide receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel and tight end Trey Burton — it could put Bears general manager Ryan Pace in a tough spot.
While the Bears make a tough decision on whether to keep their 2014 first-round pick, Gutekunst will be exploring other possibilities to improve the secondary, just as he said he would.
Maybe that includes going after former Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu. Time will tell.
It’s hard not to be impressed with Gutekunst’s work so far. He’s upgraded the tight end position, strengthened the defensive line, made a solid trade and now has basically put the Packers in a win-win situation with Fuller.
Ideally the Bears will decline to match the offer and Green Bay will land a top cornerback. If not, Gutekunst’s NFC North rivals have to take on the contract.
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