I sometimes scoff at the salary cap, which teams continually find ways to work around, but there are occasions where it forces their hands on moves they'd prefer not to make. Like Chicago releasing cornerback Kyle Fuller, and the Broncos swooping in to sign him to a one-year deal a week later. It's a nice get for Vic Fangio's defense, and might key to them becoming relevant again.
Denver has ranked outside the top 20 in fantasy defense the last two years. The problem hasn't been pass rush, where it's had 40-42 sacks both seasons. But it was in the bottom 10 in interceptions both seasons; just 10 each year. Denver used its top pick in the draft on cover corner Patrick Surtain, and also signed safety Justin Simmons to a multi-year deal. Between those guys and Fuller, it should be a greatly improved secondary.
Fangio is quite familiar with Fuller; the last time the two worked together, the results were pretty awesome. Back in 2018, when Fangio was the defensive coordinator in Chicago, Fuller had 7 interceptions, and Chicago as a team had 27. That performance helped Chicago have the league's No. 1 fantasy defense (1 point for sacks, 2 for takeaways, 6 for touchdowns). It's the 13th-best team interception performance this century; No. 1 since 2013. Fangio and Fuller, together again.
| TEAM INTERCEPTIONS, 2001-2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Int |
| 2001 | Cleveland | 33 |
| 2011 | Green Bay | 31 |
| 2005 | Cincinnati | 31 |
| 2002 | Tampa Bay | 31 |
| 2009 | Green Bay | 30 |
| 2007 | San Diego | 30 |
| 2003 | New England | 29 |
| 2013 | Seattle | 28 |
| 2009 | Buffalo | 28 |
| 2006 | Baltimore | 28 |
| 2003 | Minnesota | 28 |
| 2001 | Tampa Bay | 28 |
| 2018 | Chicago | 27 |
| 2009 | New Orleans | 26 |
| 2008 | Baltimore | 26 |
| 2004 | Carolina | 26 |
| 2019 | New England | 25 |
| 2010 | New England | 25 |
| 2009 | Philadelphia | 25 |
| 2003 | Kansas City | 25 |
| 2002 | Baltimore | 25 |
| 2015 | Carolina | 24 |
| 2012 | Chicago | 24 |
| 2010 | Green Bay | 24 |
| 2006 | Chicago | 24 |
| 2005 | Chicago | 24 |
| 2005 | Minnesota | 24 |
| 2004 | Buffalo | 24 |
| 2003 | Baltimore | 24 |
| 2003 | St. Louis | 24 |
| 2002 | Atlanta | 24 |
| 2002 | Green Bay | 24 |
| 2001 | San Francisco | 24 |
| 2001 | Carolina | 24 |
| 2014 | San Francisco | 23 |
| 2013 | Buffalo | 23 |
| 2011 | San Francisco | 23 |
| 2011 | New England | 23 |
| 2010 | Philadelphia | 23 |
| 2008 | Cleveland | 23 |
| 2006 | Green Bay | 23 |
| 2005 | Carolina | 23 |
| 2004 | Seattle | 23 |
| 2004 | San Diego | 23 |
| 2003 | San Francisco | 23 |
| 2001 | Washington | 23 |
Denver's pass rush should also be better, getting Von Miller back and pairing him with Bradley Chubb (the duo has played only 4 games together the last two seasons). They need to keep everyone healthy. But they seem to have a lot of good pieces in place.
I'm not certain Denver will have a top-10 fantasy defense this season. They sneak into our top 12 in the magazine; even that is a significant boost from last season. But two months ago, when both Miller and Simmons' status were uncertain, Fuller was in Chicago, and Surtain seemed ticketed for Dallas, it looked a lot less likely. Now it's a defense with a lot of potential for the upcoming season.
--Andy Richardson