LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Kyle Fuller thinks he is stepping into an ideal situation with the Chicago Bears.
"When I think of the Chicago Bears, I think of their physical defense," Fuller said. "And I feel like I fit it very well."
Fuller was at Halas Hall on Friday, one day after the defensive back from Virginia Tech was selected with the No. 14 pick in the first round of the NFL draft. Chicago is counting on the 6-foot, 190-pound Fuller to help improve a defense that ranked among the league's worst last season.
The Bears have a pair of Pro Bowl cornerbacks in Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings, but Fuller is expected to play on Chicago's nickel defense and special teams at the outset of his pro career.
"I'm definitely looking forward to coming in and being behind those guys and learning from them," he said. "But a lot of guys here have reached out to me, congratulating me, saying they're looking forward to working with me. And likewise as well.
"I'm definitely looking forward to coming in and getting started with those guys."
General manager Phil Emery said the 33-year-old Tillman will remain a cornerback, ruling out a move to safety. He said Fuller is versatile enough to help in other ways until the makeup of the roster changes.
"You can rule that out 100 percent -- you don't even have to finish your question," Emery said. "Charles Tillman is our starting corner and that's where he's gonna be."
Both starting safety spots are up for grabs with the Bears, but Emery liked Fuller's talent and versatility. He said current players were texting him congratulations on the pick Thursday. Some of those players could be involved in training Fuller.
"He'll probably have more than one mentor to help him through the process, and what's exciting about that is Kyle's the type of person who can accept mentoring," Emery said. "It takes a certain level of maturity to let others reach out and help along the way and Kyle is certainly that type of person."
Fuller is used to having lots of competition. He grew up in a family with four Virginia Tech players, including former NFL defensive back Vincent Fuller, who played from 2005-2011 with Tennessee and Detroit. Corey, a wide receiver, was on the Lions' practice squad last year.
"We've been in sports since we were 6 years old, playing basketball, track and football," he said. "So I definitely think it prepared me to get me to where I am now.
"Also competing with my brothers, growing up under them, seeing things they've done has helped me become the player I am today."
Fuller and other Bears rookies will get their first experience in uniform next weekend in a three-day rookie minicamp.