PFF: Steelers Should Trade for Talented Titans Cornerback

The Steelers have issues in their secondary, and Pro Football Focus believes the team could add a cornerback before the trade deadline. Who would they acquire in the trade? Tennessee Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton. He has had an up-and-down career with the Titans so far. Brad Spielberger of PFF believes the Steelers could reach Fulton for their fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Fulton is struggling mightily in the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, but a change of scenery where he can play behind one of the league’s elite defensive lines could help him turn his young career around,” Spielberger wrote. The only cornerbacks under contract beyond 2023 in Pittsburgh are 33-year-old Patrick Peterson and rookies Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice. Trice suffered a torn ACL in the team’s first padded practice, and the uber-talented prospect out of Purdue fell to the seventh round because of injury concerns.

“Among 83 cornerbacks in 2023 with at least 100 snaps lined up out wide, Levi Wallace’s 48.2 grade ranks 72nd and Patrick Peterson’s 59.6 mark ranks 54th. Porter has flashed big time when on the field, but adding another young option to, at the very least, get a look for 2024 and beyond makes a lot of sense for the Steelers.”

Fulton has one year left on his rookie contract, so the Steelers would have to re-sign him if they wanted him to be a part of the plan for the future. They have already made one move in the cornerback room, bringing in Darius Rush after they let veteran cornerback Desmond King go. Fulton has moments of greatness on his Tennessee tape but has not yet been able to filter that into a consistent career.

The other name that could be intriguing for the Steelers if they are looking to shoot for a high-upside young cornerback is Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, but he could be challenging to acquire. Other players on the trade block could be Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam or Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson. But Fulton is a fascinating name because he has shown those moments of high-level play.

Pittsburgh could use secondary help any way they get it. I still believe that safety makes more sense because there are already a lot of safeties available, while it would not cost much compared to a cornerback. But a deal like the one proposed here could make sense if the Titans want to move on from Fulton.