The Detroit Lions absolutely struck out on Joey Porter Jr., and honestly, it stung. Their secondary is seriously struggling, which means it’s back to the drawing board for general manager Brad Holmes. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler just dropped two more names Detroit needs to consider for a trade, and one of them is particularly interesting given his weird situation in Kansas City.
Kristian Fulton: A Diamond in the Rough, or Just Rough?
Fowler threw out Kristian Fulton’s name, mentioning he’s “in and out” of the Chiefs’ lineup. This dude was a second-round pick by the Titans back in 2020, starting 37 games for them over four years. Then, he went to the Chargers in 2024 and had a legit strong season: 51 tackles, seven passes defended, an interception, and a 68.9 PFF grade, which put him 32nd out of 80 qualifying cornerbacks. That’s solid!
That strong year landed him a sweet two-year, $20 million deal with the Chiefs. But man, last year was a mess for him. A knee injury wrecked his offseason, then he got hit with an ankle injury in Week 2, and after that, he basically lost his starting job. He was a healthy scratch for about a third of the season and only played eight games, starting just two. Talk about a fall from grace.
This year, Fulton’s actually playing more snaps, logging 115 defensive snaps through four games. But get this: he didn’t even play a single snap in Week 3 against the Dolphins. What gives? Despite this super peculiar usage, he’s actually held up well. He’s got a 76.0 overall PFF grade and a 76.4 coverage grade. He’s been targeted eight times and allowed only four catches for a measly 19 yards, plus he snagged an interception. Yeah, he does have two penalties already, but still, those coverage numbers are looking good. Fulton is listed at 5-foot-11, 197 pounds, with acceptable 4.46 speed. His usage is definitely strange, but it totally screams that the Chiefs might be willing to move him.
What About Jalen Ramsey?
Fowler also floated Jalen Ramsey’s name, asking if it’s “worth calling Pittsburgh.” Ramsey’s history is stacked, no doubt. Since 2016, he’s racked up eight Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro selections. The guy is a certified ball hawk. He’s turning 32 later this month, so he’s not exactly in his prime anymore, but the source says he’s “still producing.” The big question is whether Pittsburgh would even let him go. The Lions’ defense, especially that secondary, looks far from settled.
The Lions need to make some moves if they want to get their secondary right this season. Fulton’s situation in KC is a huge red flag for them, but it could be a golden opportunity for Detroit to snag a talented player who’s performing well despite his bizarre playing time. Keep those phones hot, Holmes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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