Cowboys Urged to Sign Kendall Fuller in Free Agency to Address Secondary Concerns

Multiple NFL analysts have recommended the Dallas Cowboys pursue veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller in free agency as the team faces significant depth issues in their secondary heading into the 2025 season. The recommendation comes as Dallas deals with injuries to key defenders and the departure of longtime slot cornerback Jourdan Lewis, creating an urgent need for experienced coverage help before the regular season begins.

Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton identified Fuller as the ideal free agent target for Dallas in late May 2025, emphasizing his versatility and reliability. According to Moton, the Cowboys face a potentially difficult start to their campaign with All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs recovering from knee surgery and expected to miss the beginning of the season, while rookie third-round selection Shavon Revel rehabilitates from a torn ACL suffered during his college career at East Carolina. The situation became more pressing after Lewis signed a three-year contract worth thirty million dollars with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March, leaving a significant void in the slot position.

cowboys kendall fuller free agency
cowboys kendall fuller free agency

Fuller’s appeal to Dallas stems from his demonstrated ability to play both outside cornerback and in the slot, making him a flexible solution for multiple defensive schemes. The thirty-year-old veteran brings nine seasons of NFL experience, including 104 career starts, 16 interceptions, and 82 pass breakups across stints with Washington, Kansas City, and Miami. His most notable achievement came in Super Bowl LIV when he secured a game-sealing interception for the Chiefs against San Francisco, cementing his reputation as a reliable performer in high-pressure situations.

The former Virginia Tech standout began his professional career as a third-round draft pick by Washington in 2016 before being traded to Kansas City in 2018 as part of the Alex Smith deal. After winning a championship with the Chiefs, Fuller returned to Washington on a four-year contract worth forty million dollars in March 2020, where he produced two of his highest-rated seasons according to Pro Football Focus, earning overall grades above 80.0 in both 2021 and 2023. These grades placed him among the elite at his position, with only five cornerbacks achieving similar marks in 2024.

Fuller’s most recent season with Miami proved challenging as injuries limited his impact and effectiveness. He appeared in just 11 games for the Dolphins in 2024 after signing a two-year deal worth fifteen million dollars, recording 50 tackles and one fumble recovery but failing to register an interception for only the third time in his career. Pro Football Focus ranked him 75th among eligible cornerbacks with a grade of 66.2, raising questions about whether his performance dip resulted from the injuries or represented a more concerning decline as he entered his thirties.

Despite the statistical downturn, analysts believe Fuller could provide valuable depth for Dallas at an affordable price point. The Cowboys have established a pattern of avoiding major free agent expenditures under owner Jerry Jones, preferring bargain signings and draft development to build their roster. Fuller’s current availability in the free agent market suggests his price tag has dropped significantly from his previous contracts, potentially making him an attractive option for a team operating with limited cap flexibility and seeking stopgap solutions rather than long-term investments.

The timing of Fuller’s potential signing became more critical when DaRon Bland, another key Dallas cornerback, suffered a foot injury during training camp in September 2025 that was expected to sideline him for multiple weeks. This development further exposed the Cowboys’ lack of depth at the position and prompted additional calls for the team to pursue outside help. Multiple outlets suggested Fuller as an immediate answer who could bridge the gap until Diggs, Bland, and Revel all return to full health and availability.

However, as of February 2026, Fuller remains unsigned by Dallas despite the persistent recommendations from analysts throughout the 2025 offseason. Instead, Fuller signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad in October 2025 after being released by Miami in February of that year. The Lions brought him aboard to address their own secondary injuries but released him from the practice squad later that same month. His current free agent status leaves the door open for potential interest from teams including Dallas, though no concrete negotiations have been reported between Fuller and the Cowboys organization.

For those wondering whether Dallas will ultimately pursue Fuller, the situation remains fluid as the Cowboys continue evaluating their cornerback depth and monitoring the health status of their injured defenders. The team has historically been reluctant to make mid-season or late-offseason additions unless absolutely necessary, preferring to develop younger players already on the roster. This philosophy may explain why they have not yet acted on the repeated recommendations to sign the veteran cornerback despite the apparent need and his continued availability on the open market.

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