2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Keldric Faulk, Edge/DL, Auburn

Breaking down the strengths, weak points, usage, and projected role of Aubrun Edge/DL Keldric Faulk. Plus: grades and schematic fit

Updated: 04/08/2026

Note: This season, I’m posting full scouting reports of a ton of players — as well as written columns on some of the top or most intriguing prospects. This is the format I file to scouting services, and that mirrors the “one sheets” you see in NFL front offices — with some explanations about position critical traits for readers. The written-through columns will have deeper explanations on some of the scouting terms and, more importantly, why they matter. Those will come throughout the draft cycle. But I’ve had requests for these quick reports, and so here they are! I’ve updated my process this season, based on the Chargers model that stems from Michigan and is now used in Baltimore and Seattle. If you want to understand more about the changes and any verbiage, I broke the process down on the first scouting evaluations podcast with Jon Ledyard.

---

2026 NFL Draft Hub

Prospect: Keldrick Faulk | Jersey #: 15 | Pro Pos.: IDL/Edge | College Pos.: IDL/Edge

School: Auburn | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 276lbs | Speed: TBD | Explosive Index: N/A

Age: 20.4 (Jr) | Final Grade: 6.55 (Solid Starter/Rotational) | Draft Projection: First Round

STRONG POINTS:

· A tall, long-edge defender who split time between playing on the edge and the interior. Shredded weight for the Combine but didn’t attempt sprinting drills. Was billed throughout the 2025 college season as a height-weight-speed freak, but no testing to back up that presumption.

· Has played on the edge as a stand-up edge, inside as a 4i in three-man fronts, as a heavy end in four-down fronts, and as a wide-nine in four-down pass-rush packages. Plays every alignment in every stance: squat technique and mugged up inside; heavy end; sprinter stance outside.

· Aggressive into contact but has a loose punch. Hands and feet are rarely tied together. Leads with his upper chest, then his hands come to meet the point. Hands consistently get collapsed at the point of attack. Doesn’t build a firm or stable base.

· Fights and absorbs contact at the point of attack. Has been rocked by first contact but fights to re-establish position.

· Late, patient hands as a wide-nine edge-rusher. Uses his length to his advantage. Will shorten the distance and force tackles to commit without getting tied up in their frame. Has the length to knock arms down while not tied up on a blocker and clear a tight path to the quarterback.

· Plays more of a crafty, finesse game than his build would indicate. Good variety of moves, swipes and hesis to throw off the rhythm of blockers.

· Quick hands for someone so big and long. Has some twitch in his upper half in the second phase of the rush.

· Shows potential as an interior rusher. Has burst off the ball, length, and walk-back power when playing out of a sprinter stance inside that doesn’t show up on the perimeter — though he lacks some physicality at the point, and has been drilled off his spot by double teams when playing inside.

· Happy to play off and through contact – works through bodies as an interior rusher while getting hit from all angles. Absorbs contact and can sink a little when working through the half-man on the edge.

· Should be a potent push-pull rusher with his length and feel for space. The attempts are limited on his college film. Prefers to use a heavy slap or play a finesse game that belies his length and size.

· Good pass-rush radar. Rarely ends up stuck behind the quarterback.

· Length allows him to effortlessly extend and create separation from blockers in the run game. Frees his frame to find the ball. Has the frame to drop anchor and plug gaps as an interior player, and shows solid technique when playing out on the edge as a heavy end.

· Has the length to destroy blocks on the interior. Comfortably makes first contact, plays with a tight punch, and can eject imposing linemen out of his frame.

· Hits like a motherbleeper once he arrives.

· Creates plenty of disruption, even if he doesn’t make the final play. Fights throughout the rep, even if stopped on first contact.

· Doesn’t turn 21 until week two of his rookie season.

· Has the versatility to play across the front — no matter the down. Best pass-rush glimpses come in a four-point sprinter stance when playing inside.

WEAK POINTS:

· Lacks serious sizzle off the snap. Some techniques rob him of the ability to explode off the ball. Played in a lag technique on early downs that delayed him from firing off the ball. That part is explainable. But in pass-obvious situations, as a four-down rusher edge-rusher, he doesn’t rip off the ball. Isn’t twitchy, either off the ball or when moving laterally.

· Was given tricky assignments — similar to recent Georgia edge rushers — where he’s rushing the passer from the 4i spot. That leads to classic delayed rushes: in-to-out-then-back-to-out-to-in. That didn’t offer him a natural “edge” attacking angle, nor did it allow him to play as an interior, upfield rusher.

· Inconsistent pad level. Plays too upright, both as an interior run defender and interior pass-rusher. Likes to pop upright and then play with low hands. Concedes his chest. When engaged, he will immediately rise. Is consistently caught taking on blockers around the shoulder pads or helmet. Fails to rise and explode into contact with good, forward posture, cinching his hands into the frame of the blocker.

· Upright position exposes his giant frame. Was moved and controlled by blockers in the run game who could match his length.

· Inability to tightly or explosively change direction shows up on stunts and twists. As the second man through, he takes wide angles to the pocket. Doesn’t play tight, explosive and efficient.

· Flashes that he can sink and bend around the corner. But too often is caught pogo-sticking out of his stance and attacking upright. A linear player who struggles to decelerate. Struggles to redirect and chase scrambling quarterbacks or adjust to subtle QB movements in the pocket, even when given access as a free runner.

· A lot of “effort” and clean-up pressures rather than clean wins.

· For a player tabbed as a height-weight-speed guy, he doesn’t demolish the pocket often enough. Hard not to wish he brought more oomph at the point of attack. Is too often stopped on first contact. You would love to see a couple of dump-truck blockers on a couple of reps. You’re left screaming for him to drop his pads and just run through someone’s face, particularly when attacking from a tilted alignment with a small runway.

· Gets stopped on contact far too often – whether lined up outside or inside.

· Struggles to sink and turn the corner as a highside rusher. Doesn’t maintain his speed throughout all phases of the rush. Gets caught on the high side. Labored coming off contact when winning the edge.

· Gets caught on blocks as a high-side rusher. Lacks the flexibility to dip-and-rip around the arc.

· Poor block anticipation. Routinely whacked by pin-downs, cutters and split-flow blocks. Was asked to play gap-and-a-half as a 4i on base downs. Even with a lag technique. Was delayed getting out of his stance compared to the rest of the front and to react to what he was reading. Was killed by pindowns against Georgia, and manhandled by tight ends on base blocks.

· Fell off multiple potential sacks (three versus Georgia in the first half alone). Always a fingertip away. If he had more natural flexibility or could maintain speed throughout the rush, he would close those plays.

· Consistently jumps offside – from every alignment. Has lined up and jumped offside multiple times from multiple alignments.

· Happy to fight through the play on passing downs, but his effort comes and goes on run plays that aren’t directed directly in his face.

· Faulk’s effort and tenacity are generally there. But there are odd snaps where he just gives up and stops playing. This is the first play of the game against Alabama. Your team stinks, I get it. It’s a shitty season. But it’s rivalry week. You’re supposed to be a top-10 pick. Your team needs you. And you quit on the very first play?