]

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are surprisingly turning their attention to Auburn’s star edge rusher in the 2026 mock draft, though it’s too early to make a decision.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have added short-term help to their pass rush after the NFL Draft, but long-term answers could still be on the horizon.

In a recent way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft by Kyle Crabbs of The 33rd Team, the Buccaneers are projected to take Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk in the first round.

Tampa Bay brought in veteran Haason Reddick on a one-year deal and selected Elijah Roberts and David Walker late in the draft, but the need for a future cornerstone off the edge remains clear.

Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Keldric Faulk sacks Maryland Terrapins quarterback Cameron Edge. / Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

“Tampa’s pass rush help for 2025 comes in the form of Haason Reddick on a one-year contract and Day 3 rookies Elijah Roberts and David Walker,” Crabbs wrote. “Faulk is a supersized rusher, not dissimilar to the build of Elijah Roberts. However, his production in the SEC is hard to ignore — he posted 45 pressures on just more than 300 rush opportunities in 2024.”

Faulk joined Auburn as a four-star recruit in 2023. And over the past two seasons, he has established himself as one of the Southeastern Conference’s premier defensive players, recording seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024. With Faulk’s combination of size, strength and proven SEC production, he could be exactly what Tampa Bay needs to sustain a dominant front for years to come.

Tampa Bay, which already has a strong interior with lineman Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea, could create a dangerous defensive front by pairing Faulk with either Reddick (if re-signed) or one of their young pass rushers who develops over the next year.

Related Posts

UPDATE: Should the Buccaneers erect a statue to honor Tom Brady after his legendary legacy?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never had a player quite like Tom Brady. The franchise, once defined by mediocrity and missed playoff chances, was transformed the moment Brady signed…

BREAKING: 2 Buffalo Bills at risk of cuts after 2025 training camp.

The Buffalo Bills are once again aiming high in 2025. They have a roster built to contend and a franchise quarterback locked in for the long haul. However, with…

BREAKING: Rashee Rice dodges Chiefs’ biggest question as he heaps praise on the offense.

After failing to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions last season, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to get…

BREAKING NEWS: Haason Reddick has nothing but praise for his new teammate Baker Mayfield at the Buccaneers.

Not many quarterbacks have been through what Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has and come out on the other side better off than they were before. Mayfield, a former No….

GOOD NEWS: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen officially shares the life-changing moment.

Bυffalo Bills qυarterback Josh Alleп, fresh off his 2024 NFL MVP wiп, shared a life-chaпgiпg aппoυпcemeпt today, revealiпg that his wife, actress Hailee Steiпfeld, is pregпaпt with…

REPORT: Chiefs welcome reunion candidate to Kansas City, add 3 more players to training camp tryouts.

Former TCU tight end Geor’Quarius Spivey is trying out with the Kansas City Chiefs once again. The Kansas City Chiefs began their three-day mandatory minicamp on June 17, and…