It’s year two for Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears, and it starts with the 2026 NFL draft, which is set for April 23 though 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ahead of the event, the Bears are getting their ducks in a row, and multiple reports link the team to a budding edge in the draft.
Lucky for the Bears, there are a bevy of solid pass rushers in the draft. This class is simply rich with edge talent, but there’s one that stands above the rest when it comes to who will likely be available by the Bears’ first pick at No. 25 overall.
That player is Keldric Faulk, an edge out of Auburn. He’s got the exact build you want to see in an edge at At 6’6″, 276 pounds and longer than 34-inch arms. Faulk is also just 20 years old, so he has years before he even peaks in the NFL. The only problem is that a Bears rival may take him first.
Chicago Bears Projected to Go After Budding Edge in Draft, But a Longtime Rival is Also Considering Him
The Detroit Lions are also reportedly interested in Faulk, and for good reason. The Lions famously need a solid edge to add to their room, and Faulk would be it.
Tim Twentyman of the Detroit Lions’ official website even has a comprehensive profile of the player. “He’s terrific as an edge setter and anchor in the run game, posting an 85.5 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus last season,” he states in the piece. “Just 20-years-old, Faulk still has some development remaining as a pass rusher,” with 10 career sacks, “but there’s no teaching the size, athleticism and frame.”
If Faulk is still available by the Detroit Lions’ No. 17 pick, the team is projected to go for him, if he’s the strongest player at that slot.
Preston Zbroszczyk of USA Today’s Bears Wire has a feature up about Faulk and what makes him a good fit for the Bears. He names the good and bad about the player.
“He needs to figure out a plan when it comes to attacking as a pass rusher, winning just 11.4% of his one-on-one battles, but he also possesses lots of great production as a run stopper,” he states. “But this is athleticism, strength, and effort that he plays with – Faulk should hear his name called in the first round because of what he can do.”
Chicago Bears Warned About Losing Player to Rival Team or Another Interested Franchise
Over at Bear Goggles On, Lior Lampert warns Chicago that plenty of teams will be interested in Faulk. He specifically points to the Lions, stating that the team is in “danger” of losing the player to Detroit.
“It sounds like there might be a race for Faulk’s services, with a pair of division foes firmly in the mix,” he says in a Friday, April 17 article. “The Bears and Lions, among other clubs, can both greatly benefit from adding a high-profile prospect of his caliber.”
So, will it be the end of the world if the Lions or another franchise take Faulk? Not at all, but the Chicago Bears should still cross their fingers that this promising edge is still around by pick No. 25.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bears’ Ben Johnson Gets Troubling News Before NFL Draft appeared first on Heavy Sports.