The Titans made a waiver-wire move that looks modest on paper, but Jonah Laulu may have more in the tank than the usual pickup of this kind.
Tennessee claimed the defensive tackle yesterday and waived DT Timmy Horne in the process, a straightforward swap as the team looks for help up front. It wasn’t about setting up any sort of Jeffery Simmons trade scenario. This was about trying to get better.
That makes sense after the way the pass rush has looked lately. Robert Saleh’s defensive line flashed in Week 6 with six sacks, then backed up against the Cleveland Browns and managed just one sack while struggling to consistently bother Deshaun Watson.
It left the impression that the earlier explosion might have been a one-off. That feels too harsh, but it’s fair to say the unit still has work to do.
Laulu gives Tennessee a different profile than Horne. Horne had no career sacks in three seasons.
Laulu has 5.5, including a half-sack this year. That alone suggests there’s something worth exploring here.
Most of those sacks came during a breakout 2025 season. The former Oklahoma Sooner played all 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders and finished with 51 total tackles and five passes defended to go with those sacks.
Tennessee has already seen him make an impact. In the Titans’ loss to the Raiders last season, Laulu forced a Cam Ward interception by getting a piece of the throw, and he also got to Ward for a sack on a spin move inside. At 26, he’s older than the typical third-year player, but there’s still room for growth if he lands in the right spot.
The Titans can point to Jacob Martin as an example of how age doesn’t have to block production. Martin is 30 this season and has 3.5 sacks, and he’s been a key playmaker off the edge. He’s also on pace to threaten his career-high mark of 5.5 sacks from last season.
That’s the broader appeal of Laulu. Under Saleh, even a player who didn’t quite fit in a new regime can find a cleaner path. His 2025 numbers hint at more than the half-sack beside his name.
Tennessee may not give him a long runway, but if he gets one, Laulu has enough tools to make this move matter.
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The Titans have made a massive move in their rebuilding effort, agreeing to send defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Bears in a trade that brings back a hefty package of draft capital. Chicago is sending two first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-rounder to Tennessee, with the Titans also sending a 2028 fifth-round pick back the other way, and it is the kind of deal that instantly changes the shape of both franchises.
Simmons had recently signed a contract extension with Tennessee, which only adds another layer to what this decision means for the Titans future. For a team trying to reset its roster, adding multiple premium picks is the kind of return that can speed up a rebuild, but moving on from one of its cornerstone defenders will not sit easily with fans who viewed him as part of the long-term foundation. [Read more 🡒]
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The same roundup that tracks Bostons growing role in Clevelands 5-2 start also points to the way these rookies are being used as more than just depth pieces. Hills development sits in that same conversation for the Titans, where the interest is not just in production but in how quickly a first-year player can earn meaningful snaps in a season that is still taking shape. The early tape is encouraging, but as with so many rookies this year, the real question is how much more responsibility is coming next. [Read more 🡒]