​With each passing day, the anticipation surrounding Tennessee Titans training camp grows louder and more intense. When the squad finally takes the field, all eyes will be on their two first-round selections, Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk. Tate is expected to move quickly into a starting role, while Faulk appears poised for a more gradual ascent, initially serving as a rotational piece. This isn’t a reflection of a lack of talent on Faulk’s part; rather, it mirrors head coach Robert Saleh’s approach of rotating defensive linemen and veterans ahead of him on the depth chart. This strategy gives Faulk a chance to refine his technique and game-readiness before shouldering a larger share of responsibilities.
What might Faulk’s rookie season look like? Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox weighed in with a projection of his production. The No. 31 overall pick, Faulk’s initial role is described as competing for a rotational spot. Tennessee’s rebuilding efforts on the defensive front are built around centerpiece tackle Jeffery Simmons, and the franchise has added outside help in John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, Jermain Johnson II, and Solomon Thomas. The 31st pick went to Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, a big, physical presence at 6’6” and 275 pounds. While Faulk is not yet polished as a pass-rusher, he possesses the potential to contribute early as a rotational depth option.
According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, Faulk has already started to show progress in his offseason work, improving his ability to break off the line thanks to refined technique. Given the depth and experience of veterans such as Johnson and Franklin-Myers under Saleh’s guidance, it’s likely that Faulk has long been viewed as a developmental backup heading into his rookie season. That said, his ceiling remains high, and he should have a real chance to compete for a role in the edge rotation alongside established players.
Faulk’s early career trajectory is expected to involve rotation duties rather than a guaranteed starting spot. He’ll likely challenge players such as Femi Oladejo, Jaylen Harrell, and Jacob Martin for snaps in the edge rotation. A successful camp and preseason could position him for meaningful playing time as a rotational edge rusher, providing the Titans with valuable depth and development opportunities as he builds experience. This path would allow Faulk to gain professional reps and fine-tune his skill set, setting him up for a more prominent workload in 2026.
In the long view, Faulk’s combination of size, versatility, and athletic potential could translate into a top-tier skill set that Tennessee leveraged late in the first round. While Auburn’s trailing finish may have tempered some expectations, his physical profile and the bright flashes of technique improvement observed in the early offseason signal potential for significant growth. If Faulk can capitalize on the opportunity to learn from veterans and adapt to the NFL’s tempo, he could evolve into a versatile edge contributor who can slide along the defensive front and maintain a presence in multiple schemes.
In sum, Faulk’s rookie season is likely to revolve around development and rotational opportunities. He’s positioned to soak up knowledge from seasoned teammates and refine his craft, with a pathway to a larger role as he progresses into Year 2. The combination of his size, emergent technique, and the Titans’ instruction under a veteran-laden front provides a solid foundation for his growth. The plan for Faulk in 2026 is to serve as a rotational big-edge presence early, learn the system from Franklin-Myers and others, and use that experience to propel him into a more substantial role the following year. This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans’ Keldric Faulk could have time to develop in 2026 for better SEO.