Keldric Faulk? Why The Bears Might Be Forced To Draft The Divisive Edge Rusher
Every year, there are a handful of draft prospects who might be called divisive. People have mixed opinions on them. In 2025, some of those names included left tackle Will Campbell (short arms), defensive end Shemar Stewart (very limited production), and edge rusher James Pearce (character concerns). Some teams will remove such players from their board. Others believe the talent they have warrants the risk of taking them in the 1st round. It sounds like the Chicago Bears might be involved with one such player this year. That is Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune revealed his belief that the Bears would take him 25th overall in the 1st round if Faulk falls to that spot. This would be a bold decision. Faulk only had 10 sacks in three college seasons. His overall impact as a pass rusher is inconsistent. Many aren’t comfortable betting such a high selection on what looks like a project. Biggs’ reasoning? It comes down to a simple reality. There aren’t many guys like him in this draft. Few players have his size (6’6″, 276 lbs), length (34 inches), power, and athleticism in one package. Players like that become stars if the light ever goes on, and he’s also a perfect fit for Dennis Allen’s defense.
Keldric Faulk would be a true roll of the dice.
His talent is obvious. There are moments where he overwhelms blockers with his sheer power and quickness. He can be moved around the line, hunting matchups. One thing nobody can dispute is his run defense. Faulk has a terrific anchor and can set the edge as well as anybody in this class. He is also only 20 years old. That is shockingly young for somebody with three years of college experience. This means there is a chance he has a chance to grow exponentially over the next couple of years.
At the very least, the Bears would be getting a stout run defender. Remember, their defense was 27th against the run last year. Shoring that up is a big priority. The real question is whether he can mold those athletic gifts into a proper arsenal of pass rush weapons. That falls at the feet of Allen and defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett. Allen is no stranger to developing young players. Trey Hendrickson and Carl Granderson were major success stories that the coach helped mold. If Faulk is willing to learn, the path ahead is realistic.
Allen has a bad habit of chasing ghosts.
He worked with Cameron Jordan for ten years in New Orleans. The Saints legend is the absolute pinnacle of what Allen covets: big, long, powerful, and a dangerous pass rush. For years, Allen kept trying to find the next Jordan. It was Marcus Davenport in 2018. It was Payton Turner in 2021. Then, in 2023, it was Isaiah Foskey. All of them proved to be major disappointments. Then he uses the same strategy with Dayo Odeyingbo in Chicago, only to be met with poor results again.
It might not be a coincidence that the best pass rushers ever drafted under his watch didn’t fit his profile. Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Trey Hendrickson were definitely not built like Keldric Faulk is. Yet the reality is that if the Bears give Allen a serious say in that 25th pick, no player screams his type more. The only lingering question is whether he will be available. Some think he’s too talented to go that late in the 1st round. We’re about to find out how many other teams are willing to take the risk.