How does Kristian Fulton fit with the Raiders?
The Raiders currently lack a second outside cornerback opposite of Travon Mullen. They very well can go several different ways with two first-round selections, however, going the cornerback route makes the most sense with that being a glaring need as they lack a current starter in that spot.
Fulton fits the Raiders for two reasons
- He’s capable of playing in a man or zone scheme. Man-to-man is more than likely preferred for Fulton, but he does come with the versatility to be utilized in more than one way. Versatile defenders are always a plus when having to navigate gameplans to take away the opposition’s best skill player.
- For year’s the Raiders have lacked a tandem of cornerbacks who can grow together, let alone two players who possess starting cornerback traits. If Mullen and Fulton can develop into both playing man-to-man on the outside, the Raiders’ defense would vastly benefit from it.
Last year, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock leaned on selecting players coming out of bigtime programs such as Clemson, Alabama and LSU. With Fulton coming off a season in which he played on the biggest stage, his surrounding measurables appear to fit the bill that the Raiders used in the 2019 draft.
LSU has the label of producing bonafide stars at the cornerback position and Fulton could be the next player to keep that tendency alive.