As the month of March continues and all 32 NFL franchises look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top-100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks on defense who fit Dennis Allen's scheme.
After not adding an edge rusher in free agency, the Bears could use one of their top-100 selections on an edge rusher to pair with veteran Montez Sweat and third-year player Austin Booker. One name who should really intrigue Chicago is Auburn Tigers edge rusher Keldric Faulk.
Let's get into our scouting report on Faulk.
Keldric Faulk, Auburn, (6-foot-6, 276 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"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. 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."
Film:
Strengths:
- Has the size needed to be an every down player on defense at the next level.
- One of the youngest prospects in this draft class. At just 20 years old, Faulk has a legitimate chance to have a long career and be an impact player for a long time.
- Polished and refined as a run defender.
- Versatility will be his biggest strength at next level as he can play anywhere on the defensive line.
- Has the potential to be a one-gap and two-gap player in odd or even fronts.
- Toolbox of pass rush moves is pretty diverse considering how young of a prospect he is.
- Gap integrity shows up on film as a clear indication of a player who understands his assignment.
Weaknesses:
- Needs to improve his ability to fire off the ball at the start of the snap.
- Hand placement and punches need to improve and become more powerful for a player of his size.
- Needs to play with lower pad level, especially as a taller edge rusher.
- Lacks physicality at the point of attack, which is odd for a player of his size.
- Play speed takes a clear step back when he's asked to engage in any lateral movement.
Does Faulk fit the Bears defense?
The easy answer is yes. Faulk has the size and athleticism that the Bears covet in edge rushers, and as one of the younger prospects in this draft class, he's a player who has a ton of untapped potential. While the production doesn't show a player who was a true sack machine in college, Faulk's time with Auburn proved that he can be one of the most effective players on defense and that he is good enough to create opportunities for other players.
As a pro, he may appear to be a better run defender than pass rusher at first, but there is a clear enough ceiling for him to develop into one of the top pass rushers in the league by year two.
Conclusion:
Faulk may be young, but he's an exciting enough player to warrant taking a chance on. He's consistently found ways to make the players around him better and will become a key force on defense for the team he ends up on.
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