Expectations and projections for Kyle Fuller with the Broncos in 2021

Kyle Fuller and Vic Fangio are reunited at last.

The last time the two were together, in Chicago back in 2018, Fuller had the best season of his career and was a key piece to the most dominant defense in the NFL led by Fangio.

Is it fair to expect a similar season from the star cornerback now that the Fuller-Fangio duo is in Denver?

Projections for 2021: 17-game starter; 4 interceptions; 17 passes defended; 51 tackles; Borderline Pro-Bowler

Every year Fuller played under Fangio in Chicago, he got better. In the two years they’ve been separated, Fuller has regressed. Expect that trajectory to flip around and point back up in 2021.

“Kyle kept improving during the time that we were there,” Fangio said after the Broncos signed Fuller to a one-year, $9.5 million contract in March. “Ultimately, the last year we were together there, he had a Pro Bowl season, where he was up there in interceptions, leading the league or close to it. He had a bunch of [passes defensed] that year. The combination of both led the league in 2018.”

In Fuller’s three years with Fangio in Chicago, he averaged four interceptions, 17 passes defended and 51 tackles per year as a lockdown cornerback on the outside. He’ll play the exact same role in Denver. Fangio will hope for similar results.

Fuller saved his best for his last season with Fangio in 2018. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound cornerback led the league with seven interceptions and 21 passes defended on the way to his only All-Pro season.

“We’re going to do everything we can to get Kyle back to that 2018 form,” Fangio stated. “I know he’s excited to be here. He’s a really good person and he’s a good teammate which is good to have and good to add to your building. We’re excited to have him.”

The past two years, however, Fuller only averaged two interceptions and 10 passes defended per season after Fangio left Chicago to take over as the Broncos’ head coach.

“Just having experience in it. I felt comfortable when he was in Chicago,” Fuller said about why he’s had the most success of his career playing under Fangio. “I think that says a lot… I was familiar Vic and that drew me to Denver. I was excited to have the chance to work with him again.”

What has never wavered in Fuller’s game, and will be extremely important in 2021, is his availability. Outside of missing the entire 2016 season to a knee injury, the 29-year old hasn’t missed a single game in his career. With fellow cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Bryce Callahan missing over a combined 10 games per season throughout their careers, Fuller’s dependable availability will be key.

Another aspect that Fuller provides to the cornerback room is his playmaking ability. While Darby and Callahan have proven they can play at a high level, neither have shown to be consistent playmakers. In their respective six year careers, Darby has eight interceptions, while Callahan has six.

Fuller, on the other hand, has proven to be a turnover machine. In his seven-year career, he has 19 interceptions and four forced fumbles. After the Broncos only had 16 takeaways last year, the fourth-fewest in the NFL, Fuller’s ability to take the ball away will be key to Denver’s defense being one of the best in the NFL.

If Fuller is able to regain his 2018 form, he won’t have to worry about potentially losing playing time to Patrick Surtain II.

The Fuller-Fangio duo will look to produce the best season for a cornerback in Denver since Vic took over the Broncos in 2019. All signs point to another big year for Fuller now that he’s reunited with Fangio.