Saints must resist draft move that could haunt them for years

One of the players with the most to gain at the NFL Scouting Combine is Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. Faulk is a superb athlete and could put the league on notice while in Indianapolis. Even if he does, the New Orleans Saints need to stay far away.

Faulk's pure strength and power will be on full display in the bench press, but it isn't limited to one event. Faulk ranked No. 9 on Feldman’s Freak List prior to the season and is one of the premier athletes in the country. That freakish athleticism could extend to the explosiveness testing and 40 yard dash numbers.

If all goes well, Faulk will be one of the biggest standouts from this week. He’s currently a mid-to-late first-round pick; however, he has the potential to rise up draft boards, possibly to the Saints range. The Saints shouldn't take the bait though.

Keldric Faulk is an amazing player, but the Saints shouldn’t pick him at 8

Faulk is a spectacular prospect, but shouldn’t be high on their draft board. They have a need at edge rusher, as the future around Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan isn’t certain, but it doesn’t outrank other positions. Their priority in the first round should be to either get a dynamic playmaker on offense or a developed game-wrecker defensively, which Faulk isn’t yet.

He’s still an unpolished product, which isn’t surprising because he’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft at 20 years old. Despite this, the tools are all there for Faulk to develop into a superstar. 

First off, he has staggering power and an elite frame to pair with it at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds. Additionally, he’s a bulldozer against the run. It’s impossible for tight ends, or even offensive linemen, to block him for long. His hand usage matches this and helps him to easily separate from blocks.

Faulk’s shown pass-rushing upside, but still needs work. He’s not the most explosive off the line and still needs to develop distinguished moves. Regardless, the tools are there to be an impactful three-down NFL player.

Overall, Keldric Faulk is an enticing prospect with his elite run defense, pass-rushing upside, and outstanding athleticism. He’s not a majorly talked-about prospect, but that’s sure to change after the NFL Combine.