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Auburn’s Keldric Faulk Projected as a First-Round Pick in 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Logan Fowler | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 1:09 PM ET

It should be no surprise that Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk is drawing first-round buzz ahead of next year’s NFL Draft.

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson recently released his 2026 NFL mock draft and pegged Faulk as the No. 28 overall pick to the Detroit Lions, piling on to the list of accolades for the rising junior. Pro Football Focus ranked Faulk No. 16 in its list of top 50 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft and listed him among the top five defensive linemen to watch.

Faulk has started each of his last two years on the Plains, totaling 80 career tackles – 45 coming as a sophomore.

According to PFF, Faulk’s 83.8 overall grade was more than 16 points better than what he posted as a freshman and ranked as the fifth-best mark of any returning Power Four edge rusher. He tied for eighth among Power Five edge defenders a season ago with 23 run-stops.

In addition to his run-stop prowess, Faulk tallied 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks with 31 hurries.

“When you coach a guy like Keldric, he’s one of those dudes that it’s a coach’s dream. Love the kid. Love the competitor. But having him come back to that room is another deal where you say ‘It’s priceless’. Because it’s not just a dude who just talks. He actually does it,” Auburn defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams said of Faulk during the spring.

King-Williams will have a plethora of talent to work with across the defensive line, but Faulk’s leadership and consistent production is one-to-none. As an anchor on the Tigers’ defensive line with first-round potential, Faulk is setting himself up for a future among football’s most elite.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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