Home Draft Profiles 2026 NFL Draft Profile: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Auburn EDGE rusher Keldric Faulk is moving up several NFL Draft Big Boards including the Buccaneers / via Instagram

2026 NFL Draft Profile: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

February 13, 2026

The 2026 NFL offseason is here and that means it’s time for mock drafts, draft profiles and everything that goes with them. So without further ado, here’s one of many Draft Profiles for the 2025 NFL draft.

Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

HT: 6’6
WT: 284

Accolades:

Third-team All-SEC (2025)
SEC All-Freshman Team (2023)

Video:

Pros:

Exceptional Build & Power: He’s a formidable presence at 6’6″, 285 lbs, backed by incredible strength (a 700lb squat and 415lb bench!). This raw power translates into dominant hand usage and rock-solid anchoring at the line.
Pro-Ready Run Defender: His run defense is already top-tier, showcasing an NFL-caliber ability to shut down opponents. He led all FBS edge defenders with 62 run stops over three seasons, consistently disrupting plays.
Versatile Playmaker: Defensive coordinators love his ability to align anywhere—from a 5-technique to a 3-technique, or even standing up on the edge. This flexibility creates mismatches and keeps offenses guessing.
Masterful Hand Usage: Faulk’s long-arm stab is a serious weapon. He uses his reach to create immediate separation, preventing offensive tackles from gaining control and winning reps.
Non-Stop Effort: His motor is absolutely relentless. He plays hard from the first snap to the last, leading to critical cleanup sacks and high-effort plays, especially when linemen start to tire in the fourth quarter.
Disciplined Edge Setter: He’s a fundamentally sound player, maintaining excellent gap integrity against misdirection. He’s not chasing stats; he’s consistently forcing runners back inside and handling his assignments.
Blocker Annihilator: Faulk routinely manhandles pulling guards and other blockers, tossing them aside with ease on power and counter runs. His performance against Alabama in the Iron Bowl was a perfect example of this dominance.

Cons:

Inconsistent First Step: Sometimes, he’s a bit slow off the snap, especially when he’s trying to figure out if it’s a run or a pass. That hesitation can let offensive tackles get a jump on him and establish good positioning.
Limited Cornering Ability: When trying to get around the edge, his bend and speed aren’t quite elite. This makes it tough for him to really threaten the outside shoulder of athletic NFL tackles and turn those tight corners toward the quarterback.
Needs a More Diverse Pass Rush: If his first pass-rush move gets shut down, he often doesn’t have a reliable Plan B. He can get stuck on blocks, struggling to disengage and create pressure later in the down.
Hand Placement Needs Work: His initial hand placement can be a bit sloppy, sometimes allowing offensive linemen to get their hands on him first. This means he loses out on gaining leverage early in the rep.
Lateral Agility Against Blocks: He tends to rely on pure power to beat reach blocks instead of cleanly redirecting. This can limit his ability to chase down plays in offensive schemes that heavily feature zone runs, affecting his pursuit angles.

Summary:

Finding the perfect home for Faulk means slotting him into a defense that loves odd-front looks and truly values a versatile lineman. Picture him as your go-to 5-technique on early downs, then effortlessly shifting inside to a 3-tech on obvious passing plays. He’s the kind of player who can fundamentally reshape your defensive front, consistently collapsing gaps from various spots. Schemes that thrive on pre-snap movement and hybrid roles are where his unique skillset will truly shine.

That comparison floating around to Calais Campbell? Honestly, it’s spot-on. It paints a clear picture of a massive, powerful defensive end who’s athletic enough to be far more than just a run-stopper. Like Campbell, he’s a player who, with the right coaching and system, has serious double-digit sack potential waiting to be unleashed. At just 20 years old, with that incredible physical profile, his ceiling is still incredibly high. Faulk isn’t the finished article yet, but the raw talent and foundational strength he brings are as robust as any defender in this entire draft class.