(670 The Score) New Broncos cornerback Kyle Fuller wasn't caught by surprise when the Bears officially released him Saturday afternoon.
Fuller understood that the NFL's diminished salary cap for 2021 was forcing teams to make difficult decisions to release key players. He also knew the Bears were over the salary cap and would be forced into such a move at some point. So that's why Chicago let him go, as it saved $11 million against the cap by releasing Fuller, who then quickly signed with Denver on a one-year, $9-million deal.
"I understood everything that was going on," Fuller said as he was introduced by the Broncos on Monday. "So, I just took it for what it was.
"It was something that I just prepared myself for."
Fuller, 29, declined to reveal whether he would've been willing to take a pay cut from the Bears to remain in Chicago or how many other teams were interested in signing him.
A first-round pick of the Bears in 2014, Fuller recorded 19 interceptions in 96 career games with Chicago and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He was also named an All-Pro in 2018.
The Bears signed veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant to a one-year deal Friday, which signaled the inevitability of Fuller's release. An eight-year NFL veteran, Trufant is expected to start opposite of Jaylon Johnson to form the Bears' new cornerback tandem.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace hasn't been made available for comment to discuss the team's release of Fuller.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.