The legal tampering period in the NFL begins today and one of the biggest names on the market is Will Fuller. The former Texans receiver took over from DeAndre Hopkins as the team’s WR1 in 2020 and looked great. Fuller racked up 53 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns through just 11 games, before being suspended at the end of November for PED use. Fuller has already served five games of the six game suspension, and looks set for a payday on the open market this offseason. These are some of his best potential landing spots.
New York Jets
The big question for the Jets this offseason is what they do at quarterback. That said, whoever ends up under center in 2021 will need far more help at wide receiver. Jamison Crowder led the team this season with just 699 yards and six touchdowns. Brashod Perriman was the only other receiver with more than 400 yards. You would expect Denzel Mims to improve in his second season, but they still lack a true game changer at the position. With a bevy of draft picks, they could be tempted to look to a rookie, but there is a lot of sense in a proven player like Fuller.
Fuller would be able to fill the hole left by Robbie Anderson’s departure last summer and would be WR1 from the get go. He would also offer a different approach to Crowder’s possession style and Mims’ contested catch ability. Fuller showed in 2020 that he is more than capable of handling the WR1 workload and with $68.4 million in cap space, the Jets have more than enough room to get a deal done.
Green Bay Packers
This move would make a tonne of sense for both parties. Prior to the 2020 trade deadline, the Packers were in talks with the Texans about acquiring Fuller. The deal fell through when the teams failed to agree a price and you would expect Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur to still be interested. LaFleur was on the Notre Dame coaching staff whilst Fuller was with the team and he has been effusive in his praise, saying that Fuller can be a “legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL”.
The move would make sense for Fuller too. The Packers are right in the middle of a Super Bowl window, having made it to the NFC Championship Game in each of the past two seasons. He would also get to play with the reigning MVP and one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, and that has to count for something. The only potential issue with this will be the Packers’ lack of cap space. Brian Gutekunst has restructured a number of deals already but with Aaron Jones returning and new contracts on the horizon for Jaire Alexander and Davante Adams, it could be a stretch to also afford Fuller.
New England Patriots
There is perhaps no roster in the NFL who are in greater need of wide receiver talent than the Patriots. Things are looking really bleak heading into 2020. Julian Edelman is solid enough, but he is 34-years old and has expressed doubts about his own fitness for 2021. This leaves Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry as the team’s leading receivers. If they are to stand any chance of competing with the Bills for the NFC East title, the Patriots need to add more talent at wideout.
Fuller would immediately elevate this offense and be the clear WR1 in New England. The team struggled last year primarily because a lack of passing weapons forced their offense to be one dimensional. It could also help get the best out of Cam Newton, who had Ted Ginn as one of his biggest targets in his 2015 MVP season. The Patriots also have the money to make a deal, with an estimated $63 million in cap space. Given their issues drafting talented receivers, getting a proven commodity like Fuller would be a smart move.
Washington Football Team
This might not be the most obvious choice, but Fuller going to Washington would be a good fit for both sides. From Washington’s perspective, they have an elite receiver in Terry McLaurin, but little else besides. Whoever ends up at quarterback will need more weapons if they are going to make another push for the postseason. The team already owns an excellent defense. If they can get a player like Fuller in free agency, this might even make them favourites for the NFC East.
The move could work for Fuller too. Although he would likely fit in as WR2 behind McLaurin, he would be moving to a team with a legitimate shot at winning their division and making the playoffs. They could also offer a good deal, with over $38 million in cap space. Fuller’s speed would be the perfect compliment to McLaurin and they would immediately become one of the league’s better duos. The big question with this move is whether Fuller will want to go to Washington if they don’t have the answer at quarterback.
