The Chicago Bears likely will be looking to improve their defense with the team's first-round pick, and to that end Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller is visiting with the team on Tuesday.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Fuller (5-foot-11¾, 190 pounds) was in Chicago meeting with Bears representatives.
Fuller generally is considered to be a tier below Michigan State's Darqueze Dennard and Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert among cornerbacks, and Fuller, Ohio State's Bradley Roby and TCU's Jason Verrett are in play to be the third corner drafted. Dennard and Gilbert are first-round locks, and it seems likely that at least two more corners will go later in the first round.
Fuller had to pull out of the Reese's Senior Bowl because he was rehabbing from surgery on a sports hernia conducted in November. The injury limited him to eight games in 2013, but he still had two interceptions and 10 pass breakups.
Fuller never redshirted and was a four-year starter for the Hokies, starting at corner and at a hybrid nickelback/linebacker spot. While he lacks elite speed -- he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, though his initial 10-yard split was a sterling 1.50 seconds -- Fuller is physical in run support and improved his coverage ability in his final two seasons. He also had a 38.5-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10-feet-8 at the combine.
He played through groin and shoulder injuries in 2012 without missing a game.
Chicago's secondary could use an infusion of talent at cornerback and at both safety spots. But the Bears also could use some help at defensive tackle. Then, the question for the front office is will the No. 14 pick be used on a tackle, a corner or a safety?
The Bears very well could be in position to take their No. 1 choices at safety and tackle, though Gilbert and maybe Dennard could be off the board at No. 14. The St. Louis Rams, who pick 13th, would seem to be in the market for a safety, but no team that picks before Chicago seems likely to take a tackle. The Detroit Lions, who pick 10th, and the Tennessee Titans, at No. 11, could grab a corner.
Fuller is the No. 4 corner and the No. 32 overall player on NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's list of the top 50 prospects, and is fellow analyst Mike Mayock's No. 2 corner in his position rankings.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
