Redskins reportedly sign former Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller

It was a relatively quiet first day for the Redskins, but it ends with a notable signing, and the return of a familiar face.

Back in the offseason of 2018, after a 7-9 season and the inevitable end of the Kirk Cousins era, the Washington Redskins needed a spark at the quarterback position. That spark came in the form of a trade for Kansas City Chiefs signal caller Alex Smith, who was coming off a career year at the time. The deal gave Washington security at quarterback, but at the cost of a third-round pick and upstart cornerback Kendall Fuller.

Fuller was 22 years old at the time, coming off a career season that saw him log four interceptions and ten pass deflections as the Redskins slot cornerback. Fuller was viewed as an ascending piece of a young, exciting defensive unit, and his ouster was the source of confusion and frustration among fans.

Now, however, it appears as though Fuller is back, after closing out his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Jason La Canfora, the Redskins are bringing back Kendall Fuller. La Canfora’s initial report was later confirmed by ESPN’s John Keim.

Fuller returns to a different Washington from the one he left in 2018. Ron Rivera is now in charge, and things are looking up for the team’s personnel. Fuller recently turned just 25 years old, and so he fits the mold of the young playmaker just entering his prime. He fell off a bit during the 2019 regular season with the Chiefs, starting just four games and logging only two pass deflections, but he saved his best play for the postseason, doubling that deflection total and earning a crucial pick in the Super Bowl.

Fuller, a former third-round selection, has a good combination of length and quickness, standing at 5-foot-11, 198, with 4.48 speed. He’s a natural player in the slot, as Kansas City kept him there most often, although they did move him around occasionally. Ideally, he’ll return to that role with the Redskins, providing security at an area of intrigue.

The terms of Fuller’s deal have not yet been disclosed, but they will be added to this article when they are. Fuller helps address a key need for Washington, as the team is relatively unproven at cornerback, aside from Quinton Dunbar. Depending on how Rivera feels about Fabian Moreau’s upside, however, the Redskins could enter 2020 with a starting lineup of Dunbar, Moreau, and Fuller. Fuller will need to work to get back to his peak form, but if his ending in 2019 is any indication, he’s once again trending up.

Update