Getty Denver Broncos cornerback Kyle Fuller warms up before a 2021 preseason game.
The Baltimore Ravens have signed former Denver Broncos cornerback Kyle Fuller to a one-year deal, the team announced on social media, adding even more talent to an already-loaded Ravens secondary.
The move sees Fuller return to the East Coast after growing up and playing high school football in Baltimore, where he starred at Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore before spending his NCAA career at Virginia Tech.
A 2014 first-round pick, Fuller spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears primarily as an outside cornerback. He earned a first-team All-Pro selection in 2018 when he led the NFL with seven interceptions and 21 passes defended. He also earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2018 and 2019 before taking a slight step back in 2020.
Fuller was still able to earn a one-year, $9.5 million contract from the Broncos for the 2021 season. He struggled initially and was even briefly benched, but thrived after being asked to play in the slot for the first time in his career after Denver’s starting nickel back, Bryce Callahan, went on injured reserve. Fuller stepped up to the challenge and acquitted himself well as a slot cornerback, earning plenty of praise from ex-Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, who also coached Fuller in Chicago, per Sean Keeler of The Denver Post. He was even mentioned as a potential trade target for the Ravens during their 2021 injury crisis.
Fuller’s ability to play both outside and in the slot was likely a motivating factor in the Ravens’ pursuit of the 30-year-old corner after the departure of cornerbacks Chris Westry, Anthony Averett and Tavon Young. Westry exclusively played outside cornerback while Young was typically restricted to the slot. Averett spent time at both positions, a role that Fuller may fill in 2022.
Ravens Fill Out CB Room With Signing
Fuller’s arrival brings a third All-Pro to the Ravens’ cornerback room, along with Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters. It’s a smart signing that serves many purposes, starting with insurance for Humphrey and Peters as the pair work their way back from last year’s major injuries.
If either takes longer than expected to return to the field, Fuller can step up into a starting role instead of forcing the Ravens to rely on Brandon Stephens – who played safety last year – or rookie cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and Demarion Williams.
The Ravens defense will also be looking to create more turnovers in 2022 after forcing just 15 in 2021, the third-fewest in the NFL. Signing Marcus Williams and his 15 interceptions since 2017 was the first step, but Fuller will help as well. He collected 18 interceptions in his first five seasons, though he hasn’t been the same ballhawk in the last two years.
Fuller’s versatility will allow new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to move around the Ravens’ defensive backs like chess pieces to come up with creative ways to stop the league’s top offenses. That will be especially important when facing Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals twice a year.