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.