Keldric Faulk Could Be the Pass Rusher We’ve Been Screaming For
For years, Lions fans have been screaming into the void about this team’s desperate need for a legitimate pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Sure, the pressures and sacks look good on the stat sheet, but anyone watching these games knows the truth: it’s taking too damn long to get home. Our secondary gets torched while we’re waiting for someone, anyone, to collapse the pocket from the other side.
The good news? Auburn’s Keldric Faulk might be exactly what we’ve been waiting for.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another draft prospect to get excited about, another chance to get our hopes up. But hear me out on this one.
The Physical Tools Are Undeniable
Faulk checks every box you want in a modern pass rusher. At 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds with an 82 1/4-inch wingspan, he’s arguably the biggest prospect in this year’s edge defender class. That alone would be enough to get your attention.
But here’s where it gets interesting: the kid can actually move. His 4.67 40-yard dash finished in the 90th percentile, and his 35-inch vertical shows the kind of explosiveness that makes offensive coordinators lose sleep. A 9.10 RAS score at that size is legitimately impressive.
Sure, there are faster and bendier rushers in this class. But Faulk turns the corner better than you’d expect from someone built like a small building, something he showed off during the hoop drill at the combine. For a man his size, that kind of flexibility is exactly what you want to see.
Run Defense First, Just Like We Do It in Allen Park
Here’s what should really get Lions fans excited: Faulk is a complete run defender right out of the box. His natural strength makes him nearly impossible to move out of a gap, and his explosiveness lets him shed blocks with ease. Those long arms keep offensive linemen at bay, and the results speak for themselves. He led the SEC with 72 run tackles over the past two seasons.
This fits perfectly with Detroit’s philosophy of earning the right to pass rush. You stop the run first, then you get after the quarterback. Faulk understands that, which is exactly why he should be wearing Honolulu Blue.
The versatility is another huge plus. In college, Faulk played everywhere from nose tackle to the wide-nine. Need him to set the edge on first down? No problem. Want him rushing from the inside on third-and-long? He’s done that too. That kind of flexibility makes him a clear three-down player.
Young With Room to Grow
Here’s the kicker: Faulk is only 20 years old right now. He was destroying college kids three or four years older than him at Auburn, starting games at just 18 in the SEC. His developmental curve is just getting started.
Think about that for a second. This kid was going up against grown men as a true freshman and holding his own. With proper coaching and seasoning, the ceiling here is massive.
The Pass Rush Concerns Are Real
Let’s be honest about the weaknesses, because pretending they don’t exist is how you end up with another disappointing pick. Faulk’s pass rush production has been average at best. His sack numbers dropped from 7.0 in 2024 to just 2.0 in 2025, though his pass rush win rate actually improved slightly.
Part of that production drop comes from his versatility working against him. Because Auburn used him all over the line, he wasn’t rushing from the edge as much as other top prospects. His pressure rate was just 2.6% from the interior but jumped to 15.1% when rushing from outside the tackle.
His best move right now is speed-to-power, and there’s not much of a plan beyond that. He’s still figuring out how to best use his natural strength, and his height sometimes works against him by causing him to play too high and lose leverage.
But here’s the thing: he knows it. At the combine, Faulk admitted he’s still working on his pass rush game. “I never want to be the same player every year,” he said. “I want to continue to try and get better and continue to improve my game.”
Character That Fits Detroit
This is where Faulk really separates himself. The kid donated part of his NIL earnings to a walk-on teammate who was struggling financially. When Auburn’s head coach got fired midseason, Faulk stepped up as a leader to keep the locker room together.
“I take full responsibility for everything that goes on,” he said. That’s exactly the kind of mentality you want in your building.
Interim coach D.J. Durkin called him “one of the best leaders I’ve been around.” Former head coach Hugh Freeze praised his work ethic and wisdom beyond his years. Daniel Jeremiah noted that “coaches rave about his character and work ethic.”
In Detroit, where grit and toughness matter as much as talent, that kind of character is invaluable.
Perfect Fit for What We Do
Faulk would slot perfectly into Detroit’s defensive scheme. He’s built for the big-end role, capable of taking pressure off both Levi Onwuzurike and DJ Wonnum almost immediately. His strength allows him to line up over the left tackle in a 5-tech, and he can slide inside on passing downs to bring some much-needed juice.
The Lions have been searching for that complementary pass rusher for years. They’ve tried free agents, they’ve tried late-round picks, they’ve tried prayers and wishful thinking. None of it has worked.
Faulk might not be there when Detroit picks at 17. He’s drawn comparisons to the 49ers’ Mykel Williams, who went 11th overall. But if he’s somehow still on the board, the Lions would be foolish not to grab him.
After years of watching opposing quarterbacks have all day to throw, after watching our secondary get picked apart while we wait for pressure that never comes, maybe it’s time to finally address this glaring need with a player who has the tools, the character, and the potential to be special.
Is Faulk ready to be our pass rush savior on day one, or are we about to fall in love with another project who never pans out? Let me know in the comments.
