The Tennessee Titans rebuilt their defensive front fast this offseason, and the new-look group comes with one clear expectation attached: pressure the quarterback.
Robert Saleh arrived as head coach and immediately put his stamp on the defensive line. Tennessee traded for Jermaine Johnson II, then added John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, and Jacob Martin in free agency.
Mike Borgonzi also swung a deal for Solomon Thomas. Saleh has coached all five of those players before, in New York and San Francisco, so this wasn’t random shopping - it was a familiar roster construction built around pieces he already trusts.
That group joins Jeffery Simmons, who signed a historic extension earlier this offseason, and second-year player Femi Oladejo, whom Saleh will try to develop. The Titans also used a first-round pick on Keldric Faulk, another player Saleh clearly signed off on because of his length and build, which draw comparisons to Arik Armstead. Put it all together, and those eight players are expected to make up Tennessee’s defensive line rotation this season.
The setup points toward an aggressive, attacking defense, which is the backbone of Saleh’s approach. If that identity takes hold, the sack total should climb. The question now is how high it can go in 2026.
Last season, the Titans did more with less than expected. Even with limited talent at EDGE, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson found ways to manufacture pressure, and Simmons turned in an All-Pro season to help carry the load. Tennessee finished tied for 12th in the NFL with 42 sacks, a number that outpaced preseason projections.
Saleh’s own recent track record is a reminder that scheme alone doesn’t create sacks. His 49ers defense finished last in the NFL with 20 sacks after losing Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams to season-ending ACL injuries. The lesson is pretty simple: even a sharp defensive coach needs the horses.
The Titans believe they have more of them now. Simmons is an elite piece, Franklin-Myers should be productive, and Saleh’s job is to get more out of the EDGE group.
Johnson is coming off a disappointing 2025 season and a 2024 Achilles injury, while Oladejo also struggled as a rookie. If this defense is going to hit another 40-plus sack season in 2026, those spots have to come through.
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Titans Rookie Jaren Kanak Is Forcing His Way Into This Camp Battle
Through four training camp practices, the Titans have already gotten a better look at one of their more intriguing late-round developmental projects. Rookie tight end Jaren Kanak has stood out in recent sessions, including the open practice for fans, showing the kind of athleticism that made his transition from linebacker to tight end in college worth watching in the first place.
Kanak has also been productive enough to force a longer look, with five receptions over two practices as he battles for a roster spot. Even with his role projecting more toward special teams than offense as a rookie, he is giving Tennessee a reason to keep him in the conversation as camp starts to sort out the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Camp Intensity Is Rising As Young Standouts Force Attention
The first padded practice of Titans training camp brought the kind of uptick everyone expects once the pads come on, with the session carrying more edge and more physicality than the early run-throughs. Several young players helped drive that energy, too, as Cam Ward, James Williams, Elic Ayomanor and Nick Singleton all turned in notable work while the team started sorting out who is ready to stand out when things get real.
The heat showed up in the trenches as well, where a brief altercation between Jeffery Simmons and JC Latham added to the days tension before it was quickly settled. It was the sort of camp moment that rarely means much on its own, but it did underline how competitive this group already feels, especially with younger names pushing to make themselves impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Elic Ayomanor Is Pushing For A Titans Role That Matters
Training camp in pads usually tells you a little more about where a young player stands, and Robert Saleh came away from the Titans recent session with one receiver standing out. Elic Ayomanor, whose rookie season showed flashes but also the usual growing pains, drew praise for the work he put in during the offseason and for how he handled a physically demanding practice as Tennessee ramps up.
The bigger question now is whether Ayomanor can turn those moments into the kind of steadiness that earns real trust in the offense. Saleh made clear that consistency is the standard here, and if Ayomanor keeps building on what he showed, he has a chance to move from promising young target to a role that actually matters for the Titans. [Read more 🡒]