Washington Redskins sign Kendall Fuller: Grade, reaction and more
The Washington Redskins are bringing Kendall Fuller back to the team that originally drafted. What can the Super Bowl champion cornerback provide for them?
The Washington Redskins may have been unable to get their hands on wide receiver Amari Cooper Monday night, but they were able to land a nice piece for their defensive backs corps with a familiar face.
After drafting Kendall Fuller in the third round of the 2016 draft and trading him away to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Redskins will be bringing him back home. Washington sent Fuller to the Chiefs in 2018 as part of the Alex Smith deal, but there were no hard feelings and it seems new head coach Ron Rivera has a solid 25-year-old to help establish a new culture on that side of the football.
In the most recent Super Bowl, Fuller made a couple of crucial plays in the fourth quarter to help seal the Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers, including a critical pass deflection and an interception on Jimmy Garoppolo to give Kansas City the victory.
Contract Details
As reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Redskins will bring Fuller back on a four-year, $40 million deal.
National Reaction
Kendall Fuller is signing a four-year, $40m deal with the Redskins per @RapSheet
— PFF (@PFF) March 17, 2020
He earned a 90.6 grade in his 2017, his last season with Washington. pic.twitter.com/6HzvTEKAMH
Kendall Fuller is a much needed piece for the #Redskins DB corps.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) March 17, 2020
More importantly, he's a guy who *wants* to be with the #Redskins, and that does wonders for a team trying to refresh a culture under new HC Rivera.
Hopefully this move is confirmed.
Remember when Kendall Fuller had the game sealing pick in Super Bowl 54??? pic.twitter.com/rUpZ2pbcIe
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) March 17, 2020
Seeing the report from @JasonLaCanfora on Kendall Fuller possibly back with the Redskins. That fits with what I heard a couple of weeks back. pic.twitter.com/PR0EVd29Gz
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 17, 2020
More fansided.com: NFL power rankings: 2020 edition – Chiefs at No. 1
With Rivera and new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio in charge, the Redskins needed a cornerback in the worst way. It appears they envision Fuller taking on a prominent role in Washington as the 25-year-old attempts to inject some energy into a young group.
Fuller missed five games with a thumb injury last season, only recording 49 tackles and a sack. Hopefully the penchant he showed in the Super Bowl for making big plays in big games continues in Washington, especially for a Redskins squad that’s trying to move past a thoroughly disappointing 2019 season and committing to him with a four-year deal.