The Tennessee Titans have spent the first month of the 2026 season searching for answers, but one of their spring free-agent additions has already become impossible to ignore.
Jacob Martin, who signed a two-year deal in March, has emerged as one of the most productive defenders on a Titans team that is still winless at 0-4. The edge rusher has put together a strong start with 1.5 sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, two defensive stops and two tackles for loss through four games, including a five-pressure outing and half a sack against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. He was also disruptive in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, piling up seven quarterback pressures and a sack in that loss.
That kind of production stands out even more because Martin has spent much of his NFL career bouncing around the league. A sixth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Temple product has also had stops with the Houston Texans, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. The one real stretch of stability came during a three-year run in Houston from 2019 to 2021.
For Tennessee, Martin has been a welcome bright spot on a defense that has been uneven to start the year. The bigger problem has been on the other side of the ball, where the offense has been dysfunctional and out of sync on nearly every drive.
The Titans’ biggest edge-rushing addition was Jermaine Johnson, but Martin has actually edged him out so far this season. Martin has one more pressure and half a sack more than Johnson, even if Johnson has been stronger against the run.
Still, Martin’s impact has been obvious, and Tennessee needs it to continue. The secondary has not been reliable, which puts even more pressure on the front seven to generate heat on opposing quarterbacks.
The Titans will try to get their first win of 2026 at home against the Houston Texans in Week 5, and Martin is one of the players Tennessee will be counting on as it tries to end a losing streak that began in Week 17 of the 2025 season.
In Other News...
Titans Face A Tough Veteran Decision To Help Cam Ward
The Titans slow start has them looking hard at the roster, and that naturally pulls veteran names into the conversation as the NFL trade deadline approaches. One possibility being floated would send Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy to Tennessee in a deal centered on running back Tony Pollard, a kind of veteran-for-veteran move that would be aimed at shaking up a team still trying to find traction around rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
Clevelands 3-1 record gives the Browns a little more flexibility to weigh their own needs, while Tennessee is in a spot where almost any credible help on offense will get attention. Nothing has been finalized, and no trade has been announced, but the speculation alone says plenty about where the Titans are right now: searching for answers, open to changes, and trying to decide whether a move like this is the right one to support Wards development. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Have A Tony Pollard Decision Fans Wont Ignore
The Seahawks running back room has been hit hard enough that a familiar name, Joe Mixon, briefly entered the conversation before his physical ended that possibility. Mixon last played for the Texans in 2024 and sat out the 2025 season with a foot and ankle injury, leaving Seattle still searching for help at a position where injuries and the physically unable to perform list have thinned the depth chart.
That kind of need naturally turns attention toward the trade market, and Tony Pollard becomes a name worth watching from Tennessees side of the ledger. He is in the final year of his contract, and with the Titans mired in a rough season, any player with value can at least spark speculation about whether the front office would listen if a contender came calling for backfield help. [Read more 🡒]
Titans 0-4 Start Is Already Separating Core Pieces From Disappointments
The Titans 0-4 start has already done what early-season records often do: it has started separating the encouraging pieces from the letdowns. On one side, rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has quickly become a defensive bright spot, sitting third in the league in total tackles, while rookie receiver Carnell Tate has given the offense a legitimate building block by leading the team in receptions and receiving yards.
Elsewhere, the picture is much murkier. Backup running back Tyjae Spears has not been able to stay healthy or make much of an impact, quarterback Cam Ward has fallen short of expectations, and the early returns on the offense have been uneven enough to keep the focus on what still has to be fixed. One notable exception has been JC Latham, whose leap has stood out, with no sacks or quarterback hits allowed so far. [Read more 🡒]