The Tennessee Titans have selected Auburn Tigers edge rusher Keldric Faulk with the No. 31 pick in the NFL Draft. To acquire the pick, the Titans traded back into the first round.
Along with the No. 31 overall pick, the Titans also received the No. 69 and No. 165 overall picks from the Buffalo Bills in the trade. In exchange, Tennessee sent No. 35, No. 66, and No. 101 to the Bills. This came after a round where the Bills were aggressively trading down.
Keldric Faulk began his college career in 2023 at Auburn, quickly becoming a key figure on the Tigers’ defense. That includes seeing him play in every game as a freshman and being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Later, in 2025, he would be named a Third-Team All-SEC selection.
In 37 career games, Faulk had 109 total tackles. That included 19.5 tackles for a loss and 10.0 sacks. On top of that, he also forced a fumble and defended 6 passes.
Previously, the Titans had used the No. 4 overall pick on Carnell Tate, a wide receiver from Ohio State. The hope is that with these two picks, the Titans are going to be able to kick their rebuild to the next level.
What Scouts Were Saying About Tennessee Titans Pick Keldric Faulk Before the NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft was seen as a stacked one at edge rusher coming into the first round. That led to a lot of focus on several edge rushers who would end up going before Keldric Faulk, but scouts were also high on him leading up to the draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Faulk ranked at No. 26 overall on his Big Board coming into the night. He would end up going No. 31, so that’s some fair value. Faulk was also the sixth-ranked edge rusher, according to Kiper. He would be the sixth-ranked edge rusher selected. Again, that implies fair value for him at that pick.
At the NFL Combine, Faulk was only tested for his jumping. There, he put up a 35″ vertical and a 9′ 9″ broad jump.
While there, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein also shared his personal scouting report for Faulk.
“Faulk has a long, developing frame, good movement skills and the potential for odd or even fronts once he gains more muscle mass. He’s a culture player with high character who earns a grade bump based on his age (turns 21 in September), traits and advanced foundation,” Zierlein wrote.
“A fluid athlete with good movement skills, he works around blocks with finesse but needs more assertive initial strikes to set firmer edges in gap control. His toughness and mentality suggest he’ll play through blocks more consistently in an NFL environment. Faulk’s rush is diverse. However, with average upfield burst, he might require a move inside on passing downs, where his long levers, quickness and agility can overmatch guards. Faulk needs polish but offers a high ceiling that should reveal itself within a couple of years.”
The Tennessee Titans Want to Open the Robert Saleh Era on the Right Foot
The last time the Tennessee Titans made it to the playoffs was in 2021, when Mike Vrabel was the team’s head coach. Now, with the Brian Callahan era a memory, the Titans are hoping new head coach Robert Saleh can turn things around.
There is room for hope in Nashville too. Last year’s first overall pick, Cam Ward, looks to be the franchise cornerstone they hoped he would be. By adding Carnell Tate, the Titans previously worked to build around him.
In Keldric Faulk, it looks like Robert Saleh is going to have his ideal edge rusher. Given the success he’s had coaching that side of the ball, it’s a major vote of confidence.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Titans Draft Keldric Faulk in First Round: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Heavy Sports.