Adam Hoge:The evaluation of Fuller is complicated, especially when you look at his 2017 season and his four-year body of work. There’s no doubt he has put together a good season this year and, frankly, saved his NFL career. But there have also been a few tough games sprinkled in there — two against the Packers and one against the Lions, all NFC North opponents. Should the Bears bring him back? Probably, but at what price?
Jahns:The price likely starts with the franchise tag in negotiations, and that’s a hefty price. CBS Sports’ current projections have the franchise tag for cornerbacks in 2018 at over $15 million. That’s a lot of money for Fuller. But cornerbacks always get paid on the open market. Last year is a perfect example. The Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract that guaranteed him $31 million when he signed. A.J. Bouye got a five-year, $67.5 million deal, including $26 million guaranteed at his signing, from the Jaguars.
The offer I’d make: 4 years, $48 million with the first two years guaranteed. If he asks for something wildly different than that, he’s playing 2018 on the tag.
This is very likely to be the primary topic of debate this winter just as AJ was last winter.
Personally I'd be thinking an offer more in the $40 mil range with $20 mil guaranteed is where Fuller fits but prices for CBs are climbing fast and coming off a $16.7 mil one year deal Trumaine Johnson is likely to be far more expensive to sign than Fuller. Maybe $12 mil per isn't out of line in 2018.
If it can't be agreed upon should we tag him or use our top pick on a DB like Fitzpatrick who'll command around $18 mil over 4 years?
All I know is that we have a lot of holes to fill on this roster already. Fuller is a solid CB. If we continually let our best players walk, we won't go anywhere - ever. Our team just doesn't have the number of top draft picks to upgrade a roster full of holes, and replace aging players or injured players who are nearing the end of their careers - AND on top of that let the top players at key positions (and CB is one critically important position) walk away.
We need to stop the bleeding. We've let far too many solid players leave the Bears. Losing top talent is just breaking our backs. We can't seem to attract top FA talent here now, and then we let our own top FAs walk. I hope we pay Fuller and keep him. The team has a boatload of cap money. Why not use it to keep our best players?
All I know is that we have a lot of holes to fill on this roster already. Fuller is a solid CB. If we continually let our best players walk, we won't go anywhere - ever. Our team just doesn't have the number of top draft picks to upgrade a roster full of holes, and replace aging players or injured players who are nearing the end of their careers - AND on top of that let the top players at key positions (and CB is one critically important position) walk away.
We need to stop the bleeding. We've let far too many solid players leave the Bears. Losing top talent is just breaking our backs. We can't seem to attract top FA talent here now, and then we let our own top FAs walk. I hope we pay Fuller and keep him. The team has a boatload of cap money. Why not use it to keep our best players?
But JABF, we haven't heard from the "don't overpay" contingent yet. It's more important not to overpay (as subjective a target as that is), than to keep talent, dontyaknow
All I know is that we have a lot of holes to fill on this roster already. Fuller is a solid CB. If we continually let our best players walk, we won't go anywhere - ever. Our team just doesn't have the number of top draft picks to upgrade a roster full of holes, and replace aging players or injured players who are nearing the end of their careers - AND on top of that let the top players at key positions (and CB is one critically important position) walk away.
We need to stop the bleeding. We've let far too many solid players leave the Bears. Losing top talent is just breaking our backs. We can't seem to attract top FA talent here now, and then we let our own top FAs walk. I hope we pay Fuller and keep him. The team has a boatload of cap money. Why not use it to keep our best players?
But JABF, we haven't heard from the "don't overpay" contingent yet. It's more important not to overpay (as subjective a target as that is), than to keep talent, dontyaknow
LOL, I've been on that side before in past years, but I am rethinking everything now. In the end, the Bears have to understand you can't win without player talent - and that includes KEEPING what little player talent you already have. It's like trying to fill a bucket with water, but there are so many holes LEAKING water that you never get it full. Never.
But JABF, we haven't heard from the "don't overpay" contingent yet. It's more important not to overpay (as subjective a target as that is), than to keep talent, dontyaknow
LOL, I've been on that side before in past years, but I am rethinking everything now. In the end, the Bears have to understand you can't win without player talent - and that includes KEEPING what little player talent you already have. It's like trying to fill a bucket with water, but there are so many holes LEAKING water that you never get it full. Never.
Exactly. You draw a hard line in the sand and you will lose people that you can't afford to. Not to say that we need to pay WAY more than other teams for people not named Glennon, but we need to do what we need to do to keep good talent.
All I know is that we have a lot of holes to fill on this roster already. Fuller is a solid CB. If we continually let our best players walk, we won't go anywhere - ever. Our team just doesn't have the number of top draft picks to upgrade a roster full of holes, and replace aging players or injured players who are nearing the end of their careers - AND on top of that let the top players at key positions (and CB is one critically important position) walk away.
We need to stop the bleeding. We've let far too many solid players leave the Bears. Losing top talent is just breaking our backs. We can't seem to attract top FA talent here now, and then we let our own top FAs walk. I hope we pay Fuller and keep him. The team has a boatload of cap money. Why not use it to keep our best players?
But JABF, we haven't heard from the "don't overpay" contingent yet. It's more important not to overpay (as subjective a target as that is), than to keep talent, dontyaknow
In this case if the cost of a tag is near $15 mil prices have gone up and adjustments need to be made. What Adam Jahns says is true. Good CBs are gonna get paid in UFA so maybe $12 mil x 4 isn't out of line but unless we draft a CB to replace him we can't allow him to scoot and tagging him makes little sense either if it only ends up as it did with AJ and we'd still need a replacement from the draft.
One thing is likely though. They won't pay big for both Fuller and Amukamara. Maybe Pace's best bet would be to lock down Amukamara for another year or two then pursue Fuller. If it can't be done there's a good chance we might be able to draft a DB like Fitzpatrick to replace him. Right now I'm thinking there are maybe two top edge guys and after that not as much difference between them. So re-sign Houston and spend a later pick on a rusher.
All I know is that we have a lot of holes to fill on this roster already. Fuller is a solid CB. If we continually let our best players walk, we won't go anywhere - ever. Our team just doesn't have the number of top draft picks to upgrade a roster full of holes, and replace aging players or injured players who are nearing the end of their careers - AND on top of that let the top players at key positions (and CB is one critically important position) walk away.
We need to stop the bleeding. We've let far too many solid players leave the Bears. Losing top talent is just breaking our backs. We can't seem to attract top FA talent here now, and then we let our own top FAs walk. I hope we pay Fuller and keep him. The team has a boatload of cap money. Why not use it to keep our best players?
But JABF, we haven't heard from the "don't overpay" contingent yet. It's more important not to overpay (as subjective a target as that is), than to keep talent, dontyaknow
Yes you have. 65 mil for was a YUGE overpay for NE. So would giving Fuller that same contract this year. We had the discussion on if the 1 year FT or a long term 10 year per year deal was better. As this Hoge/Jahns and Soul point out, 10 mil a year isn't really plausible; 12 mil a year really isn't either, Some team w/to much cap will pay to much for him(ie Byrd/Gilmore), and he's not even at their level, and only 1 of them has shown he was worth that cash; and he got less guaranteed.
I 100% agree w/Jahns start w/the FT and move on from there. If you can get him for a good long term deal you do it, if you don't, make him prove he's worth a Gilmore/Byrd like contract and go from there.
Throwing money around rarely works, see Orlando Pace, Peppers, Allen, Gilmore(for NE) and Glennon. Our best FA's haven't been the highest paid, see Hicks, Freeman, Prince A, Sitton, before that McCown and Hoyer, Bennett.
But JABF, we haven't heard from the "don't overpay" contingent yet. It's more important not to overpay (as subjective a target as that is), than to keep talent, dontyaknow
Yes you have. 65 mil for was a YUGE overpay for NE. So would giving Fuller that same contract this year. We had the discussion on if the 1 year FT or a long term 10 year per year deal was better. As this Hoge/Jahns and Soul point out, 10 mil a year isn't really plausible; 12 mil a year really isn't either, Some team w/to much cap will pay to much for him(ie Byrd/Gilmore), and he's not even at their level, and only 1 of them has shown he was worth that cash; and he got less guaranteed.
I 100% agree w/Jahns start w/the FT and move on from there. If you can get him for a good long term deal you do it, if you don't, make him prove he's worth a Gilmore/Byrd like contract and go from there.
Throwing money around rarely works, see Orlando Pace, Peppers, Allen, Gilmore(for NE) and Glennon. Our best FA's haven't been the highest paid, see Hicks, Freeman, Prince A, Sitton, before that McCown and Hoyer, Bennett.
This is better. The don't overpay contingent has arrived.
Yes you have. 65 mil for was a YUGE overpay for NE. So would giving Fuller that same contract this year. We had the discussion on if the 1 year FT or a long term 10 year per year deal was better. As this Hoge/Jahns and Soul point out, 10 mil a year isn't really plausible; 12 mil a year really isn't either, Some team w/to much cap will pay to much for him(ie Byrd/Gilmore), and he's not even at their level, and only 1 of them has shown he was worth that cash; and he got less guaranteed.
I 100% agree w/Jahns start w/the FT and move on from there. If you can get him for a good long term deal you do it, if you don't, make him prove he's worth a Gilmore/Byrd like contract and go from there.
Throwing money around rarely works, see Orlando Pace, Peppers, Allen, Gilmore(for NE) and Glennon. Our best FA's haven't been the highest paid, see Hicks, Freeman, Prince A, Sitton, before that McCown and Hoyer, Bennett.
This is better. The don't overpay contingent has arrived.
Better then the pay whatever contingent. Stephon Gilmore was must have; he's great just look at him; be worse then Prince A.