What pre-draft scouting reports said about Titans edge Kendric Faulk

The Tennessee Titans were busy during Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, making a total of two picks after trading back into the tail end of the round to select Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. While Faulk fills a need in their defensive front and gives head coach Robert Saleh another potential impact player, the move to trade back into the round was a bit of a surprise for a player who had not received much pre-draft buzz in connection to the Titans. Not familiar with Keldric Faulk?

Here's a look back at what the pre-draft scouting reports had to say about him. Dane Brugler, The Athletic From Dane Brugler : A three-year starter at Auburn, Faulk played primarily 4i-/five-technique in former defensive coordinator DJ Durkin’s three-man fronts, while also lining up wide and inside the A-gap. He entered the 2025 season with high first-round grades from NFL scouts, but neither his impact nor his production matched those lofty expectations.

Despite the lack of flash, he still earned All-SEC honors in 2025 and played an unselfish role in the structure of the scheme. A king-sized edge defender, Faulk is long, athletic, and strong. He is a straightforward pass rusher, and there isn’t much deception in his initial plan or counters.

However, though he lacks explosiveness for early wins, he is fluid in his attack and thuds with his hands to create knockback at contact. He stacks and sheds efficiently from different alignments to detach in the run game. He needs better consistency with his pad level and instincts, but rarely misses tackles and offers position flex along the line.