Titans snag dynamic edge rusher Faulk, bolstering a defensive line Saleh envisions rotating heavily in 2026.
The Tennessee Titans made picks on both sides of the ball in first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Titans selected Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 and then traded back into the first round to take Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk.
It's clear that the Titans were still following the best player available approach with Tate. They believed that he was the best player and receiver on the board at No. 4. He'll be a deep threat for Cam Ward, and has an extensive route tree at his disposal.
Faulk adds to the edge rushers that the Titans have on the roster. He was more of a backfield disruptor in college, but he can be used at multiple positions on the defensive line, which aligns with Robert Saleh's specialty with defensive linemen.
Faulk comes in at 6-foot-5, with an 82-inch wingspan. Saleh loves taking advantage of mismatches, and Faulk could be just the player for that.
It appears depth will be important for the Titans on the defensive line going forward, especially after what Saleh said at Friday's press conference.
Saleh shared that he wants to use anywhere from 8-9 defensive linemen on game days, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com.
The Titans prioritize the defensive line this offseason, so this admission from Saleh adds up. Tennessee needed more options in the trenches to help what was a struggling pass rush in 2025.
The Titans had a great year from Jeffrey Simmons, but the rest of the cast didn't live up to their billing. Simmons had 11 sacks, then Jihad Ward had five, with Dre'Mont Jones and Jaylen Harrell racking up 4.5 each.
Jermaine Johnson was added before free agency in the trade that sent T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets. John Franklin-Myers was the biggest addition to Tennessee's defensive line in free agency.
Malik Herring, Jordan Elliott and Jacob Martin were brought in for depth. The Titans also traded for Solomon Thomas from the Dallas Cowboys for a seventh-round pick.
With the 4-3 system that Saleh is going to use at the Titans, depth on the defensive line is going to be key. This further proves that Faulk was a good pick for the Titans at No. 31 following the trade up.
Faulk has a build that will let him move along the line and has a lot of upside as a prospect.
We're getting a better idea of what Saleh's defense is going to look like in 2026.