Grading Redskins deals from day one of NFL’s legal tampering period

CB Kendall Fuller

Everything came full circle for Kendall Fuller. Or should I say, Fuller circle? (I am so sorry)

Fuller was drafted by the Redskins in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and quickly became a key role player for the ‘Skins. He manned the slot corner position for the team and proved to be solid for them. He was burned at times as a rookie, but he showed off skills that proved he would someday be a starter.

In 2017, Fuller played full-time in the slot as the pseudo-starter, though he only was credited with six starts. He was a ballhawk for the squad, grabbing a career-high four picks, and it looked like the team had their slot corner solution for the foreseeable future.

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But in January of 2017, Fuller was shipped away from Washington. He went to the Kansas City Chiefs along with a third-round pick in exchange for Alex Smith. At the time of his departure, few understood why the Redskins were willing to part with Fuller for a quarterback in his mid-30s.

In Kansas City, Fuller played well for the Chiefs. He grabbed two picks in 2018 and made a career-high 82 tackles. He was the best cornerback on their team. Last year, he helped the Chiefs win a Super Bowl by combining with former Redskins teammate, Bashaud Breeland, and 2018 undrafted free agent Charvarius Ward to make an underrated corner trio.

Now, after his success in Kansas City, it’s time for Fuller to come home. He inked a four-year, $40 million deal to return to Washington and that price seems to be very fair. It’ll pay him as much as Logan Ryan, another solid slot-man, made last season. And given that Fuller just turned 25, he should continue to be a strong slot option (though he has the versatility needed to play outside).

All told, the Redskins paid a fair price for Fuller and he fills a big need for the team. He’ll be a long-term starter in the secondary with Landon Collins and shouldn’t regress any time soon. The Redskins added talent but avoided paying a premium for one of the more expensive corners on the market.

Grade for Redskins signing Fuller: A-