The Miami Dolphins have their replacement for Xavien Howard. And it’s a good one at a great price.
Kendall Fuller, formerly of the Washington Commanders, is signing a two-year contract with the Dolphins, Pro Football Network can confirm. ESPN reports the total value of the agreement is $16.5 million.
Miami Dolphins To Sign CB Kendall Fuller
Want to know how good of a deal this is for Miami?
The totality of Fuller’s contract is less than the post-June 1 cap relief the Dolphins will receive for moving on from Howard.
Need more insight into why this is a home-run signing for Miami?
Fuller’s estimated market value was $13.6 million annually, per Spotrac. The contract database thought he would sign a four-year contract worth $55 million.
If he had, it wouldn’t have been for the cash-strapped Dolphins.
Fuller was the top corner remaining from PFN’s Top 100 list of 2024 free agents, and No. 3 behind just Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Sneed before the start of free agency.
Fuller, 29, was a third-round pick by Washington out of Virginia Tech in 2016. He has started 93 games in eight NFL seasons — spent mostly with the franchise now known as the Commanders.
Fuller has 16 career interceptions and 75 passes defensed — including 10 or more in five different seasons.
Fuller in 2023 didn’t have his best season in coverage, allowing nine touchdown passes and 68.8% of attempts thrown in his area to be completed. His yards-per-target average was 8.1.
But he played on a terrible Commanders defense. The personnel will be far better this time around, particularly in the secondary.
Fuller, Jalen Ramsey, and either Cam Smith or Kader Kohou will presumably be the Dolphins’ top three corners in 2024. The safeties will be Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer.
FROM EARLIER: A Winning Cornerback Plan for Miami Dolphins
But expect multiple alignments from new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver thanks to the defensive backfield’s position versatility.
Grade: A
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