Commanders Strategize to Get $40 Million Super Bowl Star CB for Blockbuster Return
In hindsight, the Washington Commanders have likely been the best thing to happen to cornerback Kendall Fuller.
The Commanders selected Fuller from Virginia Tech in the 2016 NFL Draft, launching his NFL career. Then, before the 2018 season, they traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he became a Super Bowl champion just two years later. In 2020, when Fuller was a free agent, the Commanders re-signed him with a lucrative four-year, $40 million deal, significantly boosting his finances.
Now, in 2024, the Commanders have an opportunity for a third reunion with Fuller. ESPN’s Seth Walder suggested a trade that could bring him back from the Miami Dolphins, where he signed a two-year, $15 million contract in March 2024.
“How would a second reunion with Fuller work for Washington?” Walder posed. “The Commanders need cornerback help; they currently rank 31st in the NFL in defensive performance against wide receivers. With Jayden Daniels leading the team, Washington can’t afford to waste any time as they have a real shot at the playoffs. Adding Fuller would strengthen a vulnerable position.”
This move would also allow Fuller to experience something he hasn’t in his previous six seasons with Washington: playing for a competitive team, as they currently sit at 5-2 and lead the NFC East. Fuller was a two-time All-ACC selection and an All-American at Virginia Tech before becoming a part-time starter for the Commanders, recording four interceptions in just six starts during the 2017 season.
In his two years with the Chiefs, Fuller started 19 games and became known for a crucial interception that sealed the victory in Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers. He matched his career high with four interceptions in 2020 during his first season back with Washington, the last time the franchise made the playoffs.
Throughout his career, Fuller has played in 122 games, starting 98 and accumulating 16 interceptions.
The Commanders made a bold move in the 2023 NFL Draft by selecting Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. with the 16th overall pick. Despite Forbes setting an NCAA FBS record with six career interceptions returned for touchdowns, his 6-foot, 166-pound frame has struggled against NFL competition.
While Forbes did record his first interception of the season in a 40-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7, he has also ranked among the least effective cornerbacks in the league during his first two seasons and could become a trade candidate—especially if the Commanders pursue a player like Fuller.
Washington has already let go of two former first-round picks this season, trading wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles and releasing outside linebacker Jamin Davis.
“Forbes, the 16th pick in 2023, has faced a challenging two seasons, dealing with injuries and being benched,” ESPN’s John Keim noted on October 23. “Given these issues, he could be moved, but Washington also lacks depth at cornerback, where Forbes remains one of their top four options.”
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