FOX Sports' Joel Klatt revealed his 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, and in it, the Dallas Cowboys land both former Ohio State Buckeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide safety Caleb Downs and Auburn Tigers EDGE Keldric Faulk.
The Cowboys' defense ranked No. 30 in total yardage during the 2025 season, a sign of stopping neither the run nor the pass. Downs and, particularly, Faulk offer premier run-stopping abilities, while Downs is superb in coverage on intermediate routes. Faulk brings a toughness to the trenches that Dallas can badly use.
Klatt shared his belief that Faulk could help the Cowboys fill a "Micah Parsons-sized hole" in the middle. Along with Downs, Faulk was credited by Klatt as being the type of talent who can turn a defense around.
"The Cowboys could afford to double up on defense with their two first-round picks. The trade of Micah Parsons left a sizable hole in terms of pass rush. Faulk is versatile and explosive, so I think he could get the job done. These two picks might turn Dallas' defense around," Klatt said.
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Keldric Faulk offers high upside but may need time before starting in NFL
Faulk was one of DJ Durkin's great success stories during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but he enters the NFL with a few holes that could cause his stock to fall in the coming weeks, and could ultimately keep him from having a major role right off the bat.
Faulk leans on athleticism and doesn't always cleanly track his targets in the backfield. He also relies a lot on his hands and can use a creative and thoughtful pass-rush coordinator who can diversify his bag to evade blockers.
With Faulk, a team is getting a violent athlete who only figures to improve with time and reps in an NFL system. That team can't expect Faulk to reach anywhere close to his peak in year one, and possibly not in year two.
Give Faulk patience, and a potential future All-Pro defender could sprout, with versatility across the defensive line giving him a better chance to stick long-term in the pros.