Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk is just hours away from hearing his name called during the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft. Ahead of tonight's first round action that begins at 7 p.m. CT, several NFL draft experts are submitting their final mock drafts, and one franchise appears to have emerged as the favorite to sign Faulk.
ESPN NFL draft gurus Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr are the latest experts to subscribe to the idea that Faulk will head to the NFC East, as their final mock draft pairs Faulk with the Dallas Cowboys with the 20th overall selection. Yates points out that despite Faulk's production dipping in 2025, he still has plenty to offer the Cowboys from Arlington.
The defensive overhaul for the Cowboys continues with Faulk, a 21-year-old who looked like a potential top-10 pick coming into this past season. His production tapered (only two sacks in 2025 after seven in 2024), but he has a lot of desirable traits. Faulk was the tallest (6-foot-5⅞) and heaviest (276 pounds) among all edge rushers at the combine. He is strong against the run and has positional versatility.
The Cowboys own two first-round picks in this year's NFL draft, and are forecasted to take LSU cornerback Monsoor Delane with their No. 12 overall pick. Yates and Kiper are not the only ones projecting the Cowboys to select Faulk. Draft expert Peter Schrager recently talked about the pairing of Faulk with the Cowboys in a recent podcast interview, and Dane Brugler of The Athletic believes that Faulk is a great "scheme fit" with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
However, the unpredictability of the NFL Draft creates magic, and Faulk's ultimate landing spot is far from being determined. Where will Faulk ultimately end up? Tune in to coverage of the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday live from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh beginning at 7 p.m. CT. The second and third rounds will get underway on Friday, and the draft will conclude on Saturday with rounds four through seven.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Cowboys projected to pick Auburn's Keldric Faulk in 2026 NFL Draft