Femi Oladejo is running out of runway in Tennessee.
The Titans used the 52nd pick on the former UCLA defender with the idea that patience would pay off. He arrived as a developmental project after shifting from linebacker to pass rusher midway through his final college season, and Tennessee was willing to bet on the upside. But a rookie year that never really got off the ground has pushed him into a season where the promise has to turn into production.
Oladejo didn’t record a sack as a rookie, and his year ended early after a fractured leg in Week 6. Before that, the start was sluggish enough that even the flashes didn’t last long. Then came another setback this spring: he was not a physical participant at OTAs and minicamp because of an undisclosed injury, costing him valuable reps in Robert Saleh’s new defense.
That matters because the Titans didn’t exactly clear the path for him. They traded for Jermaine Johnson II, who played for Saleh with the New York Jets and fits the scheme cleanly.
They also moved up in the 2026 NFL Draft to take former Auburn end Keldric Faulk, another player seen as a natural fit for Saleh’s front. Add in free-agent signing Jacob Martin, who has also worked with Saleh before, and the competition gets real fast.
Still, there is at least one thing working in Oladejo’s favor: Saleh’s defense leans on rotation up front. If he’s healthy, the sophomore second-round pick should get chances to rush the passer and make his case. What he does with those snaps will decide how much trust he earns.
Saleh has already said he’s excited to coach Oladejo in this system, and the Titans are clearly hoping the talent starts showing up on the field. The window isn’t shut yet, but 2026 feels like the season that will tell the story of where Oladejo’s future in Tennessee is headed.
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