​The Tennessee Titans understood they had to get the 2026 NFL Draft right after their aggressive spending spree in free agency. Tennessee’s front office appeared to be following a blueprint recently used by the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, two franchises that quickly turned things around after four-win seasons in 2023 and 2024. The Commanders hit big in the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting Jayden Daniels, then supported that move with major free-agent additions. That combination helped Washington reach the NFC Championship Game. The Patriots took a slightly different path, already having their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, and then building around him through both free agency and the draft. New England made it all the way to the Super Bowl before losing to the Seattle Seahawks, but the Patriots are clearly in a much better position than they were in 2024.
For the Titans, general manager Mike Borgonzi made it clear when he took over at the start of 2025 that building through the NFL Draft would be one of his top priorities. Tennessee has made a clear effort to stockpile draft capital over the past two years. The Titans owned nine selections in the 2025 NFL Draft and nearly matched that total again this past April, adding eight rookies to the roster. Tennessee selected wide receiver Carnell Tate, edge defender Keldric Faulk, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., offensive lineman Fernando Carmona, running back Nicholas Singleton, offensive lineman Pat Coogan, defensive back Jackie Marshall and linebacker Jaren Kanak.
One of the Titans’ most notable moves came when the franchise traded back into the first round to select Keldric Faulk out of Auburn. Faulk entered the NFL with a strong reputation as a run defender, though his pass-rushing ability remains a work in progress. His versatility, however, makes him an intriguing fit in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s system. Saleh’s defenses have traditionally been built around creating mismatches, using versatile defensive linemen and linebackers in different alignments to keep offenses guessing. In theory, Faulk gives the Tennessee Titans another flexible piece up front.
Still, not everyone is sold on the value of that first-round investment. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently questioned whether Faulk was worth the pick Tennessee used to acquire him. In his latest article evaluating which players on every NFL roster are worth first-round picks, Barnwell valued quarterback Cam Ward at two first-round selections. He also listed Jeffery Simmons, Peter Skoronski and Carnell Tate as players worth one first-round pick each. Faulk, however, was placed in the category of players who are not currently worth a first-round selection.
On paper, Barnwell’s skepticism is understandable. Faulk has not yet proven that he can consistently win as a pass rusher at the NFL level. In today’s league, first-round edge defenders are often expected to pressure the quarterback immediately, and Faulk’s college profile suggests he may need time to develop in that area. However, it is also far too early to make any definitive judgment about his long-term value. Faulk has not played a single regular-season NFL snap, and evaluating his trade value or overall worth before he takes the field feels premature.
The preseason will give Titans fans their first real look at Faulk in an NFL environment, but even that will not tell the whole story. Preseason football is useful for evaluating traits, effort and early development, but it is not the same as meaningful regular-season action. Faulk could struggle early and still become a valuable defender, or he could surprise people quickly by showing more pass-rush upside than expected. Rookie defensive linemen often need time to adjust to NFL offensive tackles, blocking schemes and the speed of the game.
For now, the Tennessee Titans should be encouraged by the overall direction of their defensive line. Jeffery Simmons carried the pass rush almost by himself last season, and the team badly needed to add more talent around him. Faulk may not be a finished product, but he gives the Titans another young, physical defensive front piece with legitimate upside. Whether he ultimately proves worthy of a first-round pick remains to be seen, but writing him off before he plays an NFL game would be a mistake. Tennessee drafted him for what he can become, not just what he is today.