Titans end Fulton's slide near end of 2nd round

The Tennessee Titans selected cornerback Kristian Fulton out of LSU in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 61st overall.

With Logan Ryan, a free agent, appearing unlikely to return, the biggest hole on Tennessee's roster was arguably cornerback entering the draft.

Fulton was projected by some to be a late first-round pick but ultimately slid to the Titans near the end of the second round.

The former Tigers standout is an adept press-coverage corner who should push the high-priced Malcolm Butler to start opposite Adoree' Jackson.

Prospect Profile

School: LSU
Height: 6-0
Weight: 197 lbs

Positives

• Large stretches of dominance versus top SEC competition
• Forced a ton of incompletions, especially on short routes
• Very patient with good technical abilities to mirror receivers off their release
• Fluid hips and excellent closing burst to ball
• Won't bite on double moves
• Good ball-tracking skills led to a number of pass breakups (14 in total this past season)
• High football IQ - reads quarterback's eyes and receiver's hands
• Experience defending nearly every route at all levels of the field
• Eased character concerns after two-year suspension early in career

Negatives

• Average overall athleticism
• Just two career interceptions
• Lean frame and short arms for position
• Lacks physicality, and strong receivers consistently outmuscle him downfield
• Slight concerns over deep speed

Bottom Line

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more consistent defender across SEC secondaries over the past two years than Fulton. However, the former LSU star doesn't come without his weaknesses. Namely, his speed and below-average physicality downfield. But his college production was no fluke. Fulton forced the most incompletions in 2019 in his class, which is a key trait pro teams look for in a prospect. While he fits into nearly any scheme, Fulton can thrive in a zone defense that allows him to read the play and use his instincts and burst to disrupt opponents.