Keldric Faulk — Scouting Report

DynastySignal | 2026 NFL Draft

The Short Version

Keldric Faulk is a freakish-framed EDGE prospect out of Auburn — 6'6", 288 lbs, 20 years old — who has the physical tools to be a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, and the upside to eventually be a double-digit sack guy in the NFL. The case for Faulk is simple: you don't manufacture size-speed combo at this position, and he bends and accelerates like someone 40 pounds lighter. The case against him is equally straightforward — his pass rush toolkit is still being assembled, and teams will debate whether he's a 4-3 DE, a 3-4 OLB, or something in between. For dynasty purposes, the age-to-production curve here is very favorable, but don't expect immediate Week 1 dominance at the pro level.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|---|---|

| Name | Keldric Faulk |

| Position | EDGE / DE |

| School | Auburn University |

| Class | Junior (2026 draft eligible) |

| Height | 6'6" |

| Weight | 288 lbs |

| Age | 20 |

| Conference | SEC |

| Jersey # | 15 |

| NFL Draft Year | 2026 |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Prefix | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|---|

| The NFL Film Room — Keldric Faulk College Football Highlights | Auburn EDGE | NFL Draft Film | film_ | 18 | Pre-snap alignments with red circle callouts, pass rush reps vs. Baylor, Missouri, California, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama |

| The Draft Hub — 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: DE/EDGE Keldric Faulk (Auburn) | broadcast_ | 18 | Broadcast-angle game clips across SEC schedule; team celebration/confirmation shots; NFL comp reference (Josh Allen); pre-snap close-up on Faulk |

| Best Pod Available — Is Keldric Faulk a 2026 First-Round Talent? | highlights_ | 19 | Podcast discussion with Joe DeLeo and Ryan Roberts evaluating first-round case; provides additional analytical framing and scouting consensus context |

What The Film Shows

1. Pass Rush Moves

Grade: B / 7.0 out of 10

Faulk's pass rush is still a work in progress, but the ceiling is evident. His primary weapon is length — he keeps blockers at distance and can generate push through the arc when he gets his hips right (film_004, film_010). Against Baylor on a 2nd & 20 (film_004), he converts a speed-to-power rush around the left edge and forces a scramble. Against Oklahoma (film_008), he's clearly in the QB's lap on a third-quarter rep, winning with first-step quickness and an inside counterthat the OT can't recover to. His inside counter move is his most refined weapon right now — he sets the tackle with a wide rush, then cuts back through a gap with surprising foot quickness for someone his size (film_012 vs. Alabama, where he pressures through a stunt). What's missing is a consistent go-to finisher: his spin move is inconsistent, and you can see him just bull-rush when the counter doesn't materialize, particularly against larger tackle sets (broadcast_004 vs. LSU). There's a pass rush repertoire here, but it needs two more years of NFL development to be elite.

2. First Step & Motor

Grade: B+ / 7.5 out of 10

This is where Faulk jumps off the screen. His pre-snap quickness for a 288-pound player is exceptional. Look at film_005 — in the Missouri overtime game, 3rd & 4, he fires off the ball with legitimate burst that puts the OT immediately on his heels. The get-off isn't Hutchinson-elite, but it's legitimately above average for his size class. More importantly, he plays with sustained effort through the whistle. You see him tracking ball carriers downfield after the play has moved away from him (film_002 at Baylor, film_009 at Oklahoma) and he never takes plays off. In the Georgia sequence (film_010, film_011, film_018), he's active on every down across multiple views — not just one highlight sack. That motor translates. The Kentucky sack/TFL (film_015) is a perfect example: he's still driving his legs after winning the edge and finishes the QB all the way to the turf.

3. Run Defense

Grade: B- / 6.5 out of 10

Run defense is the concern area. Faulk's length is an asset — he can extend and keep blockers off his frame — but he doesn't consistently set the edge with power. Against LSU (broadcast_004, broadcast_005), you can see him engaged and eventually in on the pile, but he's not the one shedding blocks and making the play. He can be moved when a guard or tackle seals him initially (broadcast_007 vs. Oklahoma). At the goal line (film_001 vs. Baylor, 3rd & goal), he's in the mix but doesn't blow the play up. That said, he's only 20 years old and his frame can add functional strength. He's not a liability against the run — he's just not dominant yet. In NFL terms, he's more of a designated pass rusher on early downs until he fills out.

4. Length & Power

Grade: A- / 8.5 out of 10

This is Faulk's calling card. The close-up in broadcast_017 settles the debate — this is a long-limbed, 6'6" athlete with arms that give him genuine leverage advantages in hand-fighting. You can see the length on display in his hand placement (film_006, film_007) where he's highlighted in a hand-in-dirt stance — those arms create a plane that most OTs struggle to navigate. He's shown the ability to play from a two-point stance (film_003, film_005) and a hand-in-dirt position (film_006, film_007), and he maintains gap integrity in both alignments. Power is growing — he wins bull rushes against Big 12 competition but gets stalemated at times against SEC tackles. The frame is projectable: 288 lbs at 20 years old with this much functional athleticism is rare. He's not done physically.

5. Versatility

Grade: B / 7.0 out of 10

Auburn used Faulk in multiple alignments throughout the season, and the film confirms genuine positional flexibility. He's seen at 5-tech hand-in-dirt (film_006), as a standing 4-3 OLB type (film_003, film_005), and in reduced alignments near the B/C-gap (film_007). The broadcast frames show him lining up against both right and left tackles across different games. That said, his versatility at the college level is different from what a team will ask in the NFL — he profiles best as a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB in a scheme that can use his length and athleticism. He's not a cover linebacker, and asking him to drop into zone on a consistent basis would be wasting his skill set. The NFL comp shown in broadcast_015/broadcast_016 (Josh Allen of the Jaguars) is instructive here: Allen plays almost exclusively as a hand-in-dirt DE and has been successful in that lane. That's Faulk's path.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

1. Josh Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) — Primary Comp

The broadcast frames themselves hint at this comparison (broadcast_015, broadcast_016), and it tracks. Allen came out of Kentucky in 2019 as a 6'5", 260-lb EDGE with elite athleticism and a developing pass rush toolkit. Faulk is bigger and longer but follows a similar profile: elite physical traits, good motor, raw technique, high ceiling. Allen became a reliable 8-12 sack/year guy but needed two or three seasons to figure out his NFL game. That's Faulk's trajectory if everything breaks right.

2. Rashan Gary (Green Bay Packers) — Secondary Comp

Gary's pre-injury profile is instructive: enormous frame, elite athleticism, schematically versatile, raw technique, late bloomer who finally put it together in Year 3-4. Faulk shares the length, the frame, and the "tools-vs-production" tension that made Gary a polarizing prospect. The difference is Faulk is showing more production earlier than Gary did at Michigan. This comparison also underscores the dynasty value angle — if Faulk is healthy and in a good scheme, Year 3-4 could be when his fantasy relevance peaks.

Bottom Line

Keldric Faulk is a legitimate first-round prospect for the 2026 draft on the strength of an elite physical profile — 6'6", 288 lbs, 20 years old — that teams simply cannot manufacture. He's showing enough pass rush craft to trust the tools will translate, and his motor is the kind that gets a coach's attention when a starter gets hurt. The risk isn't talent; it's timeline. Dynasty owners buying into Faulk should expect a Year 2-3 payoff window, not an instant-impact role. His floor is a quality rotational rusher; his ceiling, with the right scheme and continued development, is a legitimate franchise cornerstone at EDGE.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 79/100

Projected Pick: R1, Pick 18-30

Film Score: 79 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Keldric Faulk, Auburn DL/EDGE

The Short Version

Faulk's a bulldozer with Day 2 upside in power-gap schemes, but the first-round buzz is smoke—stiff hips and predictable rush make him scheme-dependent, not elite.

Measurables & Background

| Trait | Value |

|-------|-------|

| Height | 6'5\" |

| Weight | 255 lbs |

| Age | 20 |

| Class | RS Sophomore |

| Hometown | Mobile, AL |

| Recruiting Rank | 4-star |

| 2024 Stats | 7 sacks, 12 TFL (limited snaps) |

Film Sources

| Source | Duration | Frames | Prefix |

|--------|----------|--------|--------|

| NFL Film Room Highlights | 9:01 | 18 | film_ |

| Draft Hub Profile | 6:09 | 18 | broadcast_ |

| Best Pod Available Podcast | 9:22 | 19 | highlights_ |

Film Analysis

Explosiveness/Get-Off: 7/10 - Quick off the ball in base looks, fires low (film_003, broadcast_002). Not twitch elite.

Power/Strength: 9/10 - Crushes lesser RTs with violent hands and length (broadcast_007, film_008 where he pancakes into QB).

Bend/Flexibility: 5/10 - Stiff around the arc, high pad level vs bendy OTs (film_012, broadcast_014 struggles turning corner).

Length/Speed: 6/10 - Good arm extension but chase speed average (highlights_010 shows pursuit, but no burner).

Run Defense: 8/10 - Stacks and sheds consistently, sets hard edge (film_009 vs run, broadcast_011 holds POA).

Pass Rush Arsenal: 6/10 - Power primary, cross-chop flashes but predictable (film_015 basic rip fails vs counter).

Overall Grade: B

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook

Year 1: Rotational 5-tech/EDGE (20-25 snaps) in 3-4 schemes valuing power (e.g., Steelers, Ravens). Year 2: Full-time starter if adds dip/rip. Year 3: 8-10 sack guy max. Avoid pass-rush needy teams.

NFL Comp

Floor: Kwity Paye (solid rotational power guy, ~6 sacks/year).

Ceiling: Cameron Heyward (powerful interior disruptor with refined hands).

Bottom Line

Faulk's power pops but lacks refinement for top-32—contrarian fade on R1 hype, prime Day 2 value in run-heavy fronts.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 78/100

Projected Pick: R2, Pick 40-60

Film Score: 78 / 100