In 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs learned about the importance of quality depth at cornerback the hard way. Star cornerback Trent McDuffie was undeniably elite in coverage — earning second-team All-Pro honors — but it didn’t matter for a long stretch of the season. While cornerback Jaylen Watson was hurt, the Chiefs’ pass coverage was dreadful.
So it’s no surprise that one of the biggest transactions the Chiefs have made in free agency addresses the position: on Tuesday, Kansas City reportedly agreed to terms with former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton.
The 26-year-old, former second-round pick earned the contract by proving himself an NFL starter on the one-year deal he signed last spring.
In 2024, Fulton started 14 games for the Chargers, earning a career-high 51 tackles along with seven defended passes and one interception. He played the third-most snaps for Los Angeles’ defense, a unit that finished the regular season allowing the fewest points per game (17.7).
Here’s what to know about Fulton when he’s on the field:
Willing tackler
Fulton has an average cornerback build at 6 feet tall and hovering around 200 pounds. For Los Angeles, Fulton aligned on the outside for 97% of his snaps. He will play on the perimeter in Kansas City; he meets the standard of physicality set by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for Chiefs’ cornerbacks.
Fulton is a very willing tackler, proving it with aggression defending short throws to the sideline. He is on the attack toward any play in front of him, even as he drops back into zone coverage. He reads it fast and has a quick trigger downhill when the ball is thrown.
He makes a couple strong plays against the run here. Has a good feel for how to be aggressive as that last line of defense to the sideline pic.twitter.com/IJeYlMjWLu
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) March 12, 2025
That defense of the sideline extends to run defense, where Fulton maintains the attacking style he plays with in coverage. On these run stops, Fulton finishes the job as the last line of defense against a running back continuing to bounce outside.
On one, he has to work through traffic after initially playing the pass; on the other, he comes from depth at the right angle to stuff a third and short. No matter how he finished the play, he did it with swagger.
Aggressive to the ball
Fulton’s burst toward a tackle attempt shows up similarly when the ball is thrown in his zone. He deciphers route concepts quickly and anticipates the ball well, leading to minimal yards after catch allowed when targeted.
On the outside, Kristian Fulton seems to be at his best in zone, reading what's in front of him & striking quickly to blanket short passes to the sideline pic.twitter.com/0lZZkie46f
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) March 12, 2025
Whether Fulton has deeper responsibility in Cover 4 (Quarters) or the shorter area in Cover 2, he keeps himself in striking position as he reads the quarterback’s eyes and the route combination. His excellent anticipation erases the chance of quick throws turning into big runs after the catch.
Fulton wants to be aggressive and beat WRs to the break on intermediate throws.
That can lead to trouble when he over-anticipates a route and exposes himself deep. Per NFL Pro, Fulton allowed 5 TDs on throws of 20+ Air Yards in 2024 (most in NFL) pic.twitter.com/o1qgLKuBv6
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) March 12, 2025
When Fulton is pressed vertically by the outside receiver, he keeps that anticipatory mindset and looks for plays on the ball out of route breaks. Even when starting aligned off the ball, Fulton will play tight to intermediate routes as he hunts for a contested target on a timing throw.
Press-man coverage
In coverage, Fulton is clearly most comfortable the closer he is to the line of scrimmage. When the defense calls for man coverage, he is best suited to start up on the receiver, utilizing his physicality to disrupt the release of fast receivers.
Fulton has the chops to be a press-man CB for KC. He looks the most comfortable 1v1 when he can be aggressive off the line & make plays trailing the route
On the flip side of that, his shakiest plays are trying to stay on top of deep routes -- even when he gives himself cushion pic.twitter.com/mtEnREzjVZ
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) March 12, 2025
That sets Fulton up to be at his best in situational defense, like the red zone. In the first play of this clip, Fulton plays off-man coverage near the goal line but quickly transitions to trail and undercut the route as it goes vertical. Fulton knows he has the back line of the end zone as a defender, allowing him to squeeze the throwing window closed.
Again, Fulton’s execution level in coverage is high on shorter throws.
The further the target gets, the less comfortable Fulton looks covering the receiver or attacking the ball. In 2024, Fulton was the targeted defender on five touchdown passes of 20 or more air yards. According to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the most registered to one player in the regular season.
The bottom line
The Chiefs have work to do to shore up the cornerback position for the long term, but the group also needs to be strengthened for 2025. Fulton’s two-year deal helps toward both objectives; the entire room will use the upcoming season to prove their value to the Chiefs’ future.
Fulton allows the motivated defensive backs to play to their strengths next season. Fulton and Jaylen Watson are both proven starters on the outside, opening a path for McDuffie to be the team’s primary slot cornerback. That would bump safety Chamarri Conner back to a more natural position for his skill set.
Further investment is likely needed in the depth of the cornerback position, but Fulton strengthens the room and the overall defense.