Titans Select LSU CB Kristian Fulton in Second Round of NFL Draft

Apr 24, 2020 at 08:23 PM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

NASHVILLE – The Titans selected LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton in the second round (61st overall) of Friday night's NFL Draft.

"Let's Geaux!!!," Fulton said on Twitter after being picked. "Excited to join the Squad @Titans! More motivated than ever and ready to work! #TitanUp."

Fulton (6-0, 200) started all 15 games for LSU in 2019 and was in on 38 tackles, 14 pass break-ups and one interception. He earned second team All-SEC honors.

Fulton ran a 4.46 at the NFL Combine.

On a conference call Friday night, Fulton said he met with the Titans at the NFL Combine and remained in contact with the team leading up to the draft. Fulton said the Vikings, Cowboys, Raiders, Saints and the Falcons all expressed a lot of interest in him in recent months as well.

"They feel like I can bring versatility to their secondary, and they like my game," Fulton said of the Titans. "I wanted to go to a coaching staff and an organization that believed in me and my talents.

"They have a great defense. I know coach Mike (Vrabel) is a defensive guy, and that is the kind of coach you want to play for – a guy who is going to study your game and put you in the best position. You don't get to the AFC Championship Game without playing great defense. I want them to use me … to help elevate that defense to be elite."

The Titans feel like they got an elite player in Fulton.

Fulton was a two-year starter at cornerback for the Tigers in 2018 and 2019, and he graded out as one of the nation's top cornerbacks in 2019. He was the 42nd ranked player on NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 draft board heading into the draft. ESPN's Jeff Legwold ranked Fulton No.41 on his Top 100 list, while ESPN's Todd McShay had Fulton ranked 38th overall. Draft analyst Mike Detillier ranked Fulton the 25th best prospect in the draft.

Pro Football Focus gave Fulton a first-round grade.

GM Jon Robinson said the Titans were tempted to move up to get him, but said the team waited it out instead.

"We were fortunate that he was still there, and we're excited to have him – he's a player we had pretty highly rated," Robinson said of Fulton. "He had a really good understanding of our vision for him if we were able to select him, and we were fortunate that he was there to take. We feel like he really fits our football team."

Vrabel said he was impressed with Fulton during pre-draft meetings, first in person and later on Facetime.

"I think you have to be able to run at that position," Vrabel said. "I don't know where everybody is going to fit, but I certainly like (Fulton) and we'll start working with him as soon as we possibly can."

At LSU, Fulton played in 28 games, with 25 starts. He finished his career with 65 tackles, 25 passes defended and two interceptions.

In LSU's win over Clemson in CFP National Championship Game, Fulton posted a career-high six tackles, including one for a six-yard loss.

Fulton will join returning cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Adoree' Jackson, along with Tye Smith, who re-signed with the team earlier this week. The Titans also have cornerbacks Kenneth Durden, Chris Milton and Kareem Orr under contract for 2020. The team has not re-signed cornerback Logan Ryan, who remains on the market, while LeShaun Sims joined the Bengals this offseason after playing previously with the Titans.

Fulton said the Titans asked him how he felt about playing inside in the defense. The team thinks he's capable because of his toughness, tackling ability and instincts.

Robinson and Vrabel said the team plans to let him compete, and they're hopeful he can contribute early.

"He'll get in here and compete with the guys we have on the roster and his role will be defined by himself and how quickly he can get acclimated to our football program," Robinson said. "He has obviously played at a high level on a really, really good (team) in college football. There was a lot asked of him, a lot put on his plate to learn, and we think that transition hopefully will be good for him."

Fulton acknowledged on Friday night the wait to get drafted was a long one, but said it was worth it.

"It was extremely tough, the wait," Fulton said. "But I had to keep reminding myself that the right team, the perfect fit, will come to me. I didn't want to go to a team that wasn't 100 percent confident in me.

"It was definitely worth the wait when I got that call. I am excited to be a Tennessee Titan."

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LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (1) plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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Football vs Texas A&M Photo by Gus Stark

Gus Stark / LSU Athletics

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Justin Jefferson, CFB2019 LSU

Chris Parent/Chris Parent / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Clemson Photo by Gus Stark

Gus Stark/Gus Stark / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Texas A&M Photo by Chris Parent

Chris Parent/Chris Parent / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Alabama Photo by Gus Stark

Gus Stark/Gus Stark / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Texas A&M Photo by Chris Parent

Chris Parent/Chris Parent / LSU Athletics

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Chris Parent/Chris Parent / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Auburn Photo by Gus Stark

Gus Stark/Gus Stark / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Georgia Photo by Gus Stark

Gus Stark/Gus Stark / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Arkansas Photo by Jacob Reeder

Jacob Reeder/Jacob Reeder / LSU Athletics

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LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (1) waits for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)

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Chris Parent/Chris Parent / LSU Athletics

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Football vs Texas A&M Photo by Chris Parent

Chris Parent/Chris Parent / LSU Athletics

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LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton leaves the field after a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. LSU won 42-25. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (1) gestures during an NCAA football game against Georgia Southern in Baton Rouge, La. Fulton is a possible pick at the NFL Draft which runs Thursday, April 23, 2020 thru Saturday, April 25. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)

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FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, LSU cornerback Greedy Williams (29) celebrates his interception with safety Grant Delpit (9) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (22) in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana, in Baton Rouge, La. Mississippi's strength is its passing game. No. 5 LSU's defense is known for stopping the pass. Both teams know that whoever controls that aspect of the game has a good shot at walking off the field with a win. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Gerald Herbert

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LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (22) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Mississippi wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Gerald Herbert

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LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (22) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton (81) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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LSU defender Kristian Fulton (22) breaks up a pass intended for Arkansas tight end Cheyenne O'Grady during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

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FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2018, file photo, LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton (22) walks through drills during their NCAA college football practice in Baton Rouge, La. LSU's secondary got a boost when Fulton was reinstated to the team after a two-year NCAA ban for tampering with a drug test that was reclassified as a testing sample substitution. LSU open the season Sunday night against No. 8 in a neutral-site stadium where the Tigers have gone 3-0, all over Top 25 opponents. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

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FILE - In this March 1, 2020, file photo, LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Fulton is a possible pick at the NFL Draft which runs Thursday, April 23, 2020 thru Saturday, April 25. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton does a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AJ Mast via AP Images)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton does a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AJ Mast via AP Images)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)