The Kansas City Chiefs made an intriguing move on the second day of NFL free agency, signing former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton to a two-year contract in an effort to bolster a secondary that struggled in 2024.
This signing has far-reaching implications for the defense, particularly considering the number of young players who are owed new contracts following this year.
Fulton will presumably start alongside All-Pro Trent McDuffie, which creates a potential issue for previous starter Jaylen Watson. In a new social media post, Watson seemingly showed his displeasure with the acquisition.
Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson Doesn't Sound Happy About New Signing
In a recent post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Watson posted a shocked emoji with wide eyes. On the one hand, this could be an indication of his shock at adding a quality player. On the other, it could be a signal that he's unhappy with the organization bringing someone in to potentially take his job.
Watson was limited to just six games this season, thanks to a fractured ankle, though he was excellent when he was on the field. The third-year corner surrendered just a 53.4% completion percentage and 75.4 passer rating when targeted in coverage, easily the best marks of his career.
Now, Watson will have to compete with Fulton for snaps. In all likelihood, Watson will still play plenty of snaps alongside Fulton and McDuffie. This probably suggests that Nazeeh Johnson and Joshua Williams will be limited to special teams, which should please fans who were frustrated all year long with the depth in the secondary.
Watson, Johnson, and Williams are all up for new contracts following 2025. This is a "prove it" season for them, and unless they deliver, general manager Brett Veach will likely look to replace them.
It feels like Watson's status is safe, though if he doesn't handle this properly, it's possible that he'll be on a new team in 2026.