Tennessee Titans: Grading the 2020 NFL Draft class, pick-by-pick analysis
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Cornerback. LSU. Kristian Fulton. 35. 2. player
Draft Grade: A+
In what was regarded by many as one of the best picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, certainly the best by the Tennessee Titans, the team snagged LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton with the 61st pick in the second round of the draft.
Kristian Fulton was regarded by many throughout the draft process as a possibility to be the second or third cornerback off the board. A sure-fire first-round pick. Some struggles against high-level competition down the stretch may have caused Fulton to drop down boards a bit, but he was still an absolute steal at 61.
Fulton came into LSU as a heralded recruit with big expectations but saw his football career come to a screeching halt in 2017 after playing just two games as a freshman in 2016. Fulton was caught trying to use someone else’s urine for a drug test that he knew he would fail due to marijuana use, and was originally suspended for two full seasons.
After missing the entire 2017 season, Fulton was reinstated. In 2018, he started every game for the Tigers until suffering a season-ending ankle injury. As a senior, Fulton really came on strong, leading the National Champions with 14 pass break-ups.
Fulton is a long and physical press-man corner with good instincts in zone. He does have occasional lapses in judgment where he loses track of his receiver and gives up a big play, but overall, Fulton does a great job of staying glued to the receiver throughout the route and breaking up any pass that comes his way.
With his skill set, Kristian Fulton should thrive in Mike Vrabel’s defense as an outside corner. The Tennessee Titans will likely get creative with moving their corners around to fill the shoes of slot corner Logan Ryan, but between Malcolm Butler, Fulton and Adoree Jackson, the team has an outstanding trio of corners.
This was a home run pick for the Tennessee Titans. Many people even mocked Fulton to them in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, so to get Fulton late in the second is a real steal. He should be an impactful player from day one and will help fill a big hole in the Titans defense.