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Washington Redskins sign free agent CB Chris Culliver

By Cory Buck

Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver (29) breaks up a pass to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during the fourth quarter at Levi
Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver (29) breaks up a pass to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during the fourth quarter at Levi /
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The Washington Redskins have reportedly signed free agent cornerback Chris Culliver to a four-year deal.

After four years of increasingly effective play at cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, Chris Culliver is moving on to put up another four years with a new team. Culliver signed a deal for that length with the Washington Redskins for a total contract value of $32 million, per NFL Media.

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Big money or no, Culliver could very well prove to be a wise investment for the Redskins. He’s just 26 years old and the team can expect a prime-aged cornerback in Culliver for the duration of the contract. If he continues to play at the high level he showed in 2014, the team can expect to see plenty of bang for their buck.

Culliver missed the 2013 season with a torn ACL injury, but returned to have a career year in 2014. He had four interceptions and 15 passes defended, both of which were career highs. While the 49ers sunk to their worst year under then-coach Jim Harbaugh, Culliver’s play rose all year, leading him to this big money deal with Washington, who desperately need help in the secondary.

The cornerback’s underlying numbers should also give Washington fans cause for optimism, as PFF notes.

The addition is a huge boon for one of the worst secondaries from last season. The Redskins gave up the most passing touchdowns in the league while ranking in the bottom ten in yards allowed. The team grabbed just seven interceptions all year, which was the second-lowest figure in the NFL.

Now in Culliver, the team has a legitimate number one cornerback who can stem the tide and start pushing this defense in the right direction. They’ll still need to address their pass rush, which wasn’t as bad as their secondary, but it certainly can’t have gotten any better by watching linebacker Brian Orakpo leave for the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

There’s plenty of time for Washington to improve and gain footing in the tough NFC East. While they still won’t be expected to seriously challenge for that crown, it’s safe to say they’re turning the corner after an embarrassing 2014 campaign.

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