Fuller House: Miami WR Will Fuller Set to Prove It

Veteran wide receiver Will Fuller has joined the Miami Dolphins this offseason during the NFL’s free agency period and is looking to make his mark and earn a long-term contract.

The former 2016 first-round draft pick left the Houston Texans after booming as a deep threat with more than 3,100 yards and 20-plus touchdowns.

Fuller Heads to South Beach to “Prove It”

Fuller signed with the Dolphins on a one-year, $10-million-dollar deal in mid-March and decided to start anew on what many believe to be a “prove it” deal. 

The receiver, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, has one year to prove to Miami if he can stay healthy and produce on the field. He was also on track for a career-best year last season before being suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Fuller and former Texan teammate, cornerback Bradley Roby, will miss the 2021-22 season opener for their respective teams to finish out their full six-game suspensions. Fuller was receiving medicine prescribed from a doctor that he didn’t realize had banned substances in it that were outside the list of the NFL’s viable medicines, while Roby was administering it to himself without doctor consent. They both will be able to return to action during their respective team’s week two action. 

Money Talks, So Fuller Walks: Inside the Numbers

The deal Fuller received is a low-risk high-reward situation that Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier mastered himself. While giving up $10 million dollars in cap space Miami added a speedy WR that can help the WR corps keep NFL defenses on their toes. With this deal being low-risk, if Fuller does not live up to expectations the Dolphins can simply move on from him next year and will not be caught up in any kind of dead cap, as it only applies to this season. 

A condition of his contract states that Fuller will get his money, but should he be released before June 1 or traded to another team, he gets the full $10,625,011 in total which does include his base salary.  But should he get traded or released after the June 1 date he only gets $9,635,011 and the Dolphins save his salary which would reduce his money but still be a major hit.  So it makes no sense to cut or trade him with the Dolphins on the hook. Miami went full in on Fuller’s signing and looks to make him a key part of its game plan for the season.

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Time For a Fuller House

Fuller brings two very important skills to Miami. His dependability on the field when healthy is unmatched and his ability to draw defenders away from primary targets is important. He can not only be a deep threat, but an option for offenses all across the field, making defenses focus on him as if he was the No. 1 WR on a team. This will bode well for the Dolphins’ workhorse DeVante Parker who can now line up with a true No. 2 opposite him. Miami being able to work off this ability from Fuller will also improve the games of predicted No. 3 and No. 4 WRs Preston Williams and Jakeem Grant. Think of Fuller as a plug-in-play slot guy who has the speed to play the outside should the need arise. 

Fuller Coming Off Career Year

Fuller is coming off a career year that saw him haul in 53 receptions (75 targets) for 879 yards in 11 games. Had he not been suspended and he stayed consistent with his production, he would have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and been closer to 1,300 yards in 16 total games.

During his time in Houston he racked up 3,110 yards and 24 touchdowns with quarterback Deshaun Watson. While QB Tua Tagovailoa has not blossomed like Watson in just his nine career games, he still has a lot to offer Fuller, and in turn, the wideout has a lot to offer Tagovailoa. 

Miami’s Offense Not Too Far Off Houston’s: Fuller Set to Succeed

The Texans and Dolphins also aren’t too far off in offensive schemes. The Texans run a West Coast zone run, a designed short-passing scheme that forces the interior runs between the offensive tackles and guards. Meanwhile, Miami has a multi-run offense that is a more balanced offense that sends out a bunch of receivers and disguises what the offense will really be doing. This will allow Fuller to adjust pretty easily to this style of offense and benefit from this even more with roulette of who will get the ball.

For a one year, $10 million dollar deal, Fuller is walking into a near-perfect system that fits many of his strengths. It will be up to him to prove it.

– Alessandro Senatore is a Sports Contributor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins who specializes in the NFL Draft and fantasy sports. Like and follow on Follow @AM_Senatore Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.