The Kansas City Chiefs overhauled their defense in 2026. Adding young pieces like Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods, and R Mason Thomas gives them some building blocks for the future, though that also means someone has to be the odd man out.
Steve Spagnuolo's secondary will welcome veteran L'Jarius Sneed back in town. He hasn't been the same since he left the building, and he still has to prove he can be healthy. If that's the case, Sneed should be in line for big snaps.
With Nohl Williams showing flashes of great play as a rookie and Delane all but locked in to start on the boundary, there might not be much room for Kristian Fulton. Considering that, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report believes the Minnesota Vikings could send a late 2027 draft pick to the Chiefs in exchange for KC's failed free agent signing:
"Aside from Byron Murphy Jr., the Vikings' cornerback group is highly questionable with Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre in line for big roles," Moton wrote. "Minnesota should add veteran insurance to cover the boundary when Murphy lines up in the slot. Fulton could be serviceable in that role."
The Chiefs should explore Kristian Fulton's trade market
The Chiefs gave Fulton a two-year, $20 million deal last offseason. He played well when available, but that was only half of the season, and he has some durability concerns after 53 career games.
According to Spotrac, the Chiefs would save nearly $10 million in cap space by sending him elsewhere. And as much as he comes with some risks, beggars can't be choosers, and the Vikings have a major need for help at the position.
Fulton is a good player, but the Chiefs can't bank all their hopes on him being healthy out of the blue. They need reliable guys, and at $13 million current cap hit, they may not feel comfortable keeping him as a backup. They're also high on Williams, and rightfully so, given his top-15 cornerback ranking on PFF last year. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have let both Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie go.
Teams are stacking up as much draft capital as they can for next year's loaded draft. That said, a fellow contender like the Vikings should be more than willing to give up a late selection to get their hands on a starting-caliber cornerback at a position of need.
The Chiefs' roster is mostly set, and barring a shocking turn of events, there won't be many -- if any -- additions before Week 1. And with their new-look secondary taking shape, the writing is most definitely on the wall for Kristian Fulton.
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