Carolina Panthers Draft Profile: Kristian Fulton provides quality depth

With the 2020 NFL Draft on the horizon, selecting cornerback Kristian Fulton with one of their second-round picks will bring quality depth to their defensive secondary.

It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers need help bad on their defense. Besides their defensive line, the Panthers need to bolster their cornerback situation in the 2020 NFL Draft. For all we know, the Panthers might use their first-round draft pick on the best available cornerback but it’s doubtful. If anything, they should definitely draft a new cornerback in Round 3 of this year’s draft.

Ideally, the Panthers should double-down and highly consider using two draft picks on just cornerbacks. Since the NFL is a passing league, it’s important to have a strong defensive secondary in order to keep up against high-octane offenses. It’s been an area of opportunity for the Panthers for the last few years now.

It would be great to see the Panthers bring in a cornerback that can be developed to be quality depth from the sidelines. You know, a rotational role to give starters a rest but also play at a high level when his number is called. This is where cornerback Kristian Fulton out of LSU makes perfect sense for the Panthers in the grand scheme of things.

Kristian Fulton would be good depth on the Carolina Panthers defense

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At 6-0 and 197lbs, Fulton is all about consistency every single time he steps foot on the field. In just three years at LSU, he totaled 56 tackles, two interceptions, 20 passes defended, and is a natural-born playmaker. In those close football games with everything on the line, Fulton is the kind of cornerback you can count on to come up big in those situations.

STRENGTHS

Fulton excels in reading passing plays as he’s an incredibly smart football player. He never second-guesses himself as an outside cornerback and almost always has an advantage when covering. Going up against second and third-string wide receivers is easy for Fulton as he’s able to dominate in press coverage. Opposing quarterbacks will have problems trying to get a big play on Fulton as he’s not easy to trick.

Best of all, Fulton has what it takes to be developed to the next level. If a team is willing to take a chance on him and develop his unique skill-set over time, he can easily become a consistent starting cornerback. He has the will to make a name for himself if he’s surrounded by veterans and a coaching staff that will help him to be a better all-around cornerback.

WEAKNESSES

Fulton has some character issues as he was suspended for two years by the NCAA due to falsifying and tampering a drug test. When Fulton gets beat by opposing receiving options it tends to get to his head where he’ll check out of plays and lacks the confidence after to bounce back. Fulton would need to prove he’s committed to not repeating the past and prepare for a long road ahead to earn more playing time.

Make no mistake about it, Fulton is a backup entering the pros and hopefully, will not let it get to him as he does his best to work his way up the depth chart. It won’t be easy but he’s worth taking a chance on as he’s shown glimpses in his collegiate career of being fantastic but it’s all about consistency in pro football.

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PANTHERS PREDICTION

Fulton is worth taking a chance on as he’d be quality depth this upcoming season which is what the Panthers’ defensive secondary needs. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington will get the most out of Fulton as the potential is clearly there that after some development, he can work his way into being a solid and consistent cornerback. When Fulton gets in the zone mentally, he can be disruptive against opposing receivers due to the sheer athleticism he brings to the table.

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