Keldric Faulk’s first spring with the Titans already showed why Tennessee was willing to move back into the end of the first round to get him.
The Titans grabbed the Auburn defensive end at No. 31 in the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick that gave them the fifth-year option on a player who may need some time before he hits his ceiling. Even so, the bet makes sense on paper: general manager Mike Borgonzi landed a high-upside defender who looks like a clean fit for Robert Saleh’s system.
And according to Turron Davenport, Faulk has begun to turn the corner.
He was on the receiving end of plenty of hard coaching from defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton and assistant Tanzel Smart, and that work has already started to pay off. Faulk said, "Don't get me wrong, I love what I did in college, but if I could have just got off the rock like how I am now, man, it would have been a really, really fun couple years."
That improved burst off the line didn’t happen by accident. Faulk has been sharpening his technique before practice with rookie teammate Jackie Marshall and Smart, and the results showed up by the end of minicamp, when he finished with a couple of sacks on the final day.
There’s still plenty of room for growth, but the physical tools are obvious. Faulk was once viewed as a potential Top 10 pick heading into the 2025 season, then slid in the draft after what looked like a quieter year than expected. Some of that drop can be tied to the scheme and the responsibilities he was given.
Now Tennessee is banking on a better match. With Saleh and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley shaping the front, Faulk should have the kind of usage that lets his strengths show up fast.
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There is still a lingering wrinkle in the aesthetic overhaul, though, because the clubs new direction may leave some of its most beloved throwback possibilities in doubt. Sports Illustrateds Mike Kadlick slotted Tennessee 19th in his 2026 uniform rankings, and while the new set is getting a mixed reception, the bigger debate might be whether the Titans should shift that nostalgia toward their own original throwbacks instead of looking back to another chapter of franchise history. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger question now is how long that arrangement lasts, because this feels like the sort of setup that can define a final chapter as much as a fresh start. Fans have already spent plenty of time looking toward the next wave of help at running back, and the Titans have a rookie in the mix who could eventually change the conversation. For now, though, Pollard appears positioned to keep handling the heavy lift, even if the runway in Nashville may not stretch much farther beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Fans Can Feel The Offensive Buzz Building Before Camp
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There are a few intriguing pieces to keep an eye on before the pads come on, from rookie Carnell Tate to WanDale Robinson following Daboll from New York, plus Elic Ayomanor after a strong spring and Cam Ward heading into Year 2. Dabolls history with young quarterbacks has helped shape the conversation around this group, and the next few weeks should go a long way toward showing whether that early optimism is real. [Read more 🡒]