Up, Down or Stay: Colorado WR Shenault may drop, but LSU CB Fulton is a trickier projection

Colorado receiver Laviska Shenault and LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton find themselves outside of the top-60 in Hall of Famer Gil Brandt’s latest top-150 rankings.

The two started the season considered high first-round prospects by many analysts but have seen their stock slip for different reasons.

For Shenault, it’s a matter of health. He reportedly dealt with injuries in 2019, leading to a worse statistical season compared to his sophomore year. Shenault was set to receive core more surgery in early March.

Kristian Fulton can play in any scheme pic.twitter.com/SxIG7pLw11

— PFF (@PFF) March 26, 2020

But Fulton’s ranking is more of a surprise, as he’s generally seen as a top-40 player. Brandt ranks Fulton as the No. 64 overall prospect, three spots below Shenault’s No. 61 ranking.

Although Fulton is still seen as a potential rookie starter, his response time and recovery burst, injury history and previous off-field incidents could cause him to fall to the middle- to bottom-half of the second round.

However, oddsmakers still see Fulton as a first-round player. The latest over/under on his overall draft position is 24.5, according to William Hill sportsbook, via Sports Illustrated.

SI’s Frankie Taddeo says Fulton has drawn interest from Atlanta, Las Vegas, Minnesota, New Orleans, Green Bay, San Francisco and Indianapolis.

Kristian Fulton: Highest-graded CB in SEC play in each of the past two seasons. pic.twitter.com/68nxTDXd5d

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 28, 2020

“Fulton’s off-field issues are well in the past at this point and his tape over the past couple seasons is what now speaks volumes,” Taddeo said. “I am willing to gamble that performing as the top corner on the defending National Champions, against the best teams in the nation in the SEC, will translate to a team drafting Fulton within the top-24 picks.”

Jake Rigdon (jake@sydwriting.com) covers the NFL draft for Fanspeak and the On The Clock, which is the only NFL draft simulator that allows you to customize and use your own big board while giving you control over trades.