Cat Scratch Reader
Even though the 2025 NFL season just started, it’s never too early to look ahead toward the 2026 NFL Draft. This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2026 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on
Faulk is an Alabama native and was a consensus four star recruit when he committed to the hometown Auburn Tigers. He earned All Freshman-SEC in his first year and vastly improved in his second season. The 6’6”, 285 lb-er also has a basketball background, which has allowed him some positionally versatility along the defensive line.
Faulk is more than just his size, but that is the first thing that jumps off the tape. He has the height, weight, arm length, everything NFL teams look for in an edge defender or exterior defensive lineman. His high motor and insane athleticism and strength allow him to be a monster against the run, violently setting the edge even against pulling offensive lineman. Faulk has also shown impressive coachability as evidenced by his improved hand usage both against the run and the pass.
Despite his improvement in that area, Faulk’s hand placement can still be a bit inconsistent. This is especially true when he starts overthinking his keys which leads to a late get-off from time to time. That hand placement could also help Faulk better fight off zone blocking schemes, which he has struggled against at times.
Faulk projects to be an immediate impact defender at the next level. He has the size, athleticism, and power to be a game wrecker against the run. While his pass rush technique needs refinement, he has the potential to be a double digit sack producer. Faulk has also managed to produce despite Auburn being an uninspiring team overall, showing he doesn’t always need a supporting cast to maximize his impact.
While the Panthers might have more glaring needs this April, defensive line could be an area they decide to invest even more in. While they added some youth and free agents to the mix, Faulk could provide a versatility that the other additions do not, playing 5 technique on rushing downs and moving all over the front in passing situations. With how often Ejiro Evero likes to rotate his down linemen and edge defenders, Faulk would see plenty of playing time right away and could create a young Monster Trio with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
What do you think, Panthers fans? If Keldric Faulk is available when the Panthers select in the 2026 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!
