The Green Bay Packers signed Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller to an offer sheet, meaning that if the Bears do not match the offer – likely a multi-year contract – Fuller will be a Packer in 2018.

The move is aggressive, and it’s an unorthodox avenue to obtain a player. But the Packers look serious in addressing the hole they created after trading away Damarious Randall.

The problem, however, is with leverage. The Bears have five days to match the offer – and they have $60 million in cap space this year to do so – but as they wait, the starting cornerback market is drying up, quickly.

Rashaan Melvin, one potential target for the Packers, just signed with the Oakland Raiders.

The Packers do have the opportunity to sign Bashaud Breeland now that he failed his physical with the Panthers. Even so, the Packers missed out on the top two targets in Malcolm Butler and Tremaine Johnson. Other corners already signed include Aaron Colvin, Richard Sherman, Patrick Robinson, Prince Amukamara, Morris Claiborne and Nickell Robey-Coleman.

There just isn’t that much talent left on the veteran market, at least at corner.

According to Bill Huber of Packer Report, the Packers have not entered the Tyrann Mathieu sweepstakes as of this point.

While the 25-year old safety would fit more as a hybrid slot corner-safety, he would give the Packers a solid veteran presence in his prime. Some unverified reports connected the Packers to Mathieu, but they’re just that: unverified.

By signing Fuller to an offer sheet, the Packers have, in essence, earmarked their salary cap space to a singular top-dollar contract, which may or may not limit their ability to negotiate in other places.

Don’t expect the Bears to play nice and make a decision before the five-day window ends.

This offer sheet demonstrates Brian Gutekunst’s desire to add veteran talent on a roster rife with youth. Fuller would solve many problems, but the Bears have plenty of space and incentive to retain Fuller regardless of the price.

The contract offer is a gamble; we’ll see if the dice fall the right way for the Packers. For now, it’s wise to exercise caution. If this deal falls through, the Packers will have to find an even more creative way to bolster the pass defense.