Tennessee football: Top 10 former Vols in the NFL for 2019

Zach Fulton immediately gave the Houston Texans the spark they needed with DeShaun Watson coming back, and his blocking at right guard helped Bill O’Brien’s team go 11-5 and win the AFC South. Now, the expectations are back on him this year since Andrew Luck has retired and the hype behind the Indianapolis Colts has gone out the window.

The 6’5″ 321-pound lineman is going to be a staple for the Texans again. His value was clear after he first turned pro in 2014, as the drop-off in Tennessee football’s offensive line was blatant. Fulton’s blocking was a huge part of the reason the Vols had such an amazing offensive season in 2012 that was only matched by a horrible defense.

Anyway, after living up to his four-year $28 million deal last year, which he earned in from his four productive years with the Kansas City Chiefs, he should hit his prime at age 28. Fulton does enter the season battling a bit of an injury, and it would probably be a good move for the Texans to hold him out until he gets fully healthy. That division is too winnable, and there’s no reason risking him.

But when he does get back, he’ll be a huge part of the balance the Texans are trying to establish. He was last year, and there’s no reason to believe there will be any drop-off this year provided he is able to come back fully healthy.