The Tennessee Titans got aggressive during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. After selecting wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 overall, general manager Mike Borgonzi traded back into the first round to snag Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk with the 31st pick. The Titans didn't believe Faulk would remain available with their scheduled 35th selection in the second round.
Faulk is an ascending 20-year-old prospect with a pro-ready frame at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds with 34.5-inch arms. Titans head coach Robert Saleh has always appreciated long defensive ends with such measurables. Faulk has drawn comparisons to Arik Armstead and Mykel Williams, both of whom Saleh coached in San Francisco.
Despite the desirable frame, Faulk was a divisive prospect throughout the pre-draft process due to a lack of eye-opening production. The Highland Home, Alabama native registered just two sacks for Auburn in 2025 after a seven-sack season in 2024. To find out what the Titans are really getting in Faulk, Titan Sized spoke with a local Auburn expert.
NFL Draft: Auburn expert says Titans are getting potential All-Pro in Keldric Faulk
"A potential star in the league, Faulk is still developing as he is just 20 years old," Fly War Eagle's Brian Stultz said. "His character is near the top of the draft, and his ability to get around blocks will make him feared by quarterbacks. Give him two years, and he could be an All-Pro player."
Firstly, the portion about Faulk's 'character' offers a potential hint into what drew Borgonzi to him. Since taking over the Titans, Borgonzi has stressed adding high-character players. He traded Jarvis Brownlee and T'Vondre Sweat away partially because they lacked it, and it was at the forefront of last year's draft, starting with Cam Ward at No. 1 overall.
Secondly, the sentence about Faulk possibly developing into an All Pro defender should be music to Titans' fans ears. He's described as a raw but ascending prospect with tons of natural ability. There's arguably no better defensive-minded coach in the NFL to help Faulk reach his potential than Saleh.
The Titans obviously see Faulk's length and strength as a natural fit in Saleh's aggressive defensive front. He possesses the qualities Saleh covets in defensive linemen, and he's already an excellent early-down run defender. The Faulk-Titans pairing could pay major dividends down the line.
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