After being significant players in the trade talks for Joey Porter Jr.—but ultimately missing out—the Detroit Lions must go back to the drawing board if they want to upgrade their struggling secondary.
Last week, we offered our own suggestions that Lions general manager Brad Holmes should consider. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler offered two more trade targets Detroit should consider.
“One potential option is Kansas City’s Kristian Fulton, who is in and out of the Chiefs’ lineup,” Fowler wrote.
“He is owed real money — $5 million of his $9.75 million base salary is guaranteed — but perhaps the Chiefs and Lions could split the bill to facilitate a deal. Is it worth calling Pittsburgh for Jalen Ramsey? Not sure he’s available, but the Lions’ defense seems far from settled.”
Let’s handle these one by one.
Fulton was the Titans’ second-round pick in 2020. After starting 37 games over four years in Tennessee, he signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in 2024. There, he produced a strong season: 51 tackles, seven passes defended, an interception, and a 68.9 PFF grade, ranking him 32nd out of 80 qualifying cornerbacks.
Fulton parlayed that success into a two-year, $20 million deal with the Chiefs last year, but it turned out to be a failed year for him. A knee injury caused him to miss most of the offseason program, he dealt with a Week 2 ankle injury, and then essentially lost his job. He was a healthy scratch for about a third of the season, playing in just eight games and starting two.
This year, Fulton has played more, but is not a full-time player. He’s logged 115 defensive snaps through four games, including a Week 3 contest against the Dolphins in which he did not play a single snap for reasons that are unclear. Despite the part-time gig, Fulton has held up well. He’s produced a 76.0 overall PFF grade and a 76.4 coverage grade. He’s been targeted eight times and allowed just four catches for 19 yards and an interception—though he does already have two penalties.
Fulton’s usage is certainly peculiar, but it could suggest the Chiefs would be willing to move on. Fulton is a physical, handsy cornerback with average size (5-foot-11, 197 pounds) and acceptable speed (4.46 40-yard dash).
As for Ramsey, his history of success is well documented. Since entering the league in 2016, he’s an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He’ll turn 32 later this month and certainly isn’t in the prime of his career, but he’s still producing at a strong level. From 2024-25, he produced 148 tackles, 19 pass breakups and three interceptions.
But if you’re hoping that helps the Lions’ outside cornerback situation, he may not be the guy you’re looking for. Ramsey has mostly played as a nickel corner or safety with the Steelers this year—a transition he’s been making over the last two seasons. Could the Lions still use help at those positions? Absolutely. But if you want an upgrade on the perimeter, Ramsey is probably not the answer.
As for financials, Ramsey wouldn’t come cheap. He’s currently sporting a $17.5 million salary—and that number jump to $19.7 in 2027 and $22 million in 2028—so it would likely be just a one-year rental for Detroit.
