It isn't a secret that the Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 offseason signing of Kristian Fulton has been a profound disappointment. The veteran corner has struggled with injuries and has been underwhelming whenever his number is called. This is evidenced by the fact that the defender has given up a quarterback rating of 118.8 in his limited time on the field. This led to Fulton increasingly falling out of Kansas City's plans, with the corner's snap count falling all the way down to two last Sunday, while undrafted rookie Kevin Knowles played 29 snaps.
Furthering this case is the fact that Fulton has played only three defensive snaps over the last four weeks of the season. Never has it been clearer that a player isn't trusted and is on his way out for the franchise. Cutting Fulton would save $5 million against next year's cap, while finding a trade partner would save $10 million. This is obviously the ideal situation for a team scheduled to be over the cap and needing to open up space.
Either way, you're freeing up money and getting rid of a player who no longer factors into your plans. It isn't just the injury issues that forced Fulton out, but the fact that rookies like Nohl Williams and Knowles have been clearly superior options to the veteran. Add in Kansas City's history of being able to find surprise contributors in the defensive backfield, and there is every reason to turn the page.
Chiefs Clearly Setting up for Offseason Divorce from Failed Signing Kristian Fulton
There is no shortage of pieces that should be shown the door after 2025's epic failure. Next season is in question, as well, as Patrick Mahomes' return to the lineup remains an unknown with the quarterback rehabbing from a torn ACL. With so many questions swirling around the team, taking on dead cap hits to retool a failing group makes sense and should start with Fulton.
The most snaps Fulton played all season were all the way back in Week 1, when the corner was on the field for 23% of the defensive plays. The lack of impact was clear, and when combined with his injury struggles, the team eventually moved in another direction entirely. With this in mind, it is impossible to come up with a reasonable explanation for keeping Fulton for another season.
Kansas City's real challenge will be attempting to drum up interest from another team willing to take the final year of Fulton's deal. Considering the defender's past accomplishments, it isn't impossible, but it will certainly be a tall task for GM Brett Veach. One that must be attempted, understanding that it would save an additional $5 million in cap space compared to simply cutting Fulton outright. Regardless of how, it is clear that the two sides' time together will be short-lived following this season's failures.