Chiefs add Kristian Fulton: How veteran cornerback fits in Steve Spagnuolo's defense

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

In a bit of a surprise move, the Kansas City Chiefs added a veteran cornerback Tuesday, agreeing to sign Kristian Fulton to a two-year contract, according to a league source.

Fulton, 27, was the No.

8 cornerback in The Athletic s NFL free-agency rankings and No.

69 overall .

The Chiefs and Fulton agreed to a two-year contract worth $20 million, including $15 million guaranteed, according to the source.

Advertisement Entering the offseason, general manager Brett Veach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo felt the team needed to acquire another quality cornerback to play alongside second-team All-Pro Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

In past years, the Chiefs have been able to do that through the NFL Draft with a mid-round pick.

But Fulton joining the Chiefs gives Spagnuolo another cornerback who offers versatility coming off the best season of his five-year career.

How he fits Fulton entered the league in 2020 with the Tennessee Titans as a second-round pick.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 179 pounds, Fulton joined the Los Angeles Chargers last spring and produced quality production seven pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Chiefs fans will likely remember Fulton most for one of his biggest highlights last season.

In Week 4 against the Chiefs, Fulton intercepted the ball when Mahomes threw a pass too high for tight end Travis Kelce.

Fulton returned the ball near the Chiefs sideline as receiver Rashee Rice pursued him.

Mahomes attempted to bring Fulton down by crouching down and launching himself sideways at the defender shoulder-first.

But Mahomes instead hit Rices right knee, bending the receivers leg backward.

Within minutes, Rice was carted off to the locker room, his hands and a towel covering his face.

His season was over.

In 2025, the Chiefs have three strong starting cornerbacks, which is essential for Spagnuolo, who loves to blitz while asking his cornerbacks to excel in man-to-man coverage.

GO DEEPER Chiefs free agency tracker: Ex-Chargers CB Kristian Fulton added to boost secondary 2025 impact The Chiefs hope Fulton has a first season in Kansas City similar to that of linebacker Drue Tranquill, who left the Chargers for the Chiefs in free agency in 2023 and produced a breakout season.

In his first season in Spagnuolos system, Tranquill played 16 games and recorded 79 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles as a rotational defender.

Advertisement Spagnuolo values cornerbacks who are not afraid to tackle.

The Chiefs defense excelled at tackling in the open field, and Fulton demonstrated that last season, recording a career-high 51 tackles.

With Fulton and Watson projected to be on the perimeter, McDuffie can return to his natural position as the nickel defender, a role he excelled in during the 2023 season.

Safety Chamarri Conner, who played plenty of snaps in the nickel last season, can return to his natural position, too.

Cap update Once again, this is where things get tricky.

Entering Tuesday, before adding Fulton, the Chiefs were last in the league, $19.4 million over the salary cap, according to Over the Cap.

The easiest way the Chiefs can get under the cap is to convert most of the $32.3 million in Mahomes contract to a signing bonus.

They can do the same with pass rusher Chris Jones ($15 million roster bonus) and tight end Travis Kelce ($12.5 million).

Signing Smith to an extension will also lower his cap hit for the upcoming season.

The addition of Fulton likely means the Chiefs wont re-sign safety Justin Reid, who is the No.

1 safety in The Athletic s NFL free-agency rankings and No.

5 overall.

Outlook On first look, this appears to be a wise acquisition for the Chiefs.

The addition of Fulton means the Chiefs have no obvious weakness in their secondary.

Spagnuolo usually wants eight defensive backs who can be used at any moment.

The Chiefs now have a strong, capable top eight in the secondary with McDuffie, Watson, Fulton, Conner, safeties Bryan Cook and Jaden Hicks and cornerbacks Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson.

(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.