The Titans are trying to turn around a losing culture with the hire of new head coach Robert Saleh, and the Titans will have one of the sharpest defensive coaching staffs in the sport with him as head coach along with former two-time head coach Gus Bradley serving as his defensive coordinator. The defense should be coached at an exceptional level next season but the personnel of the Titans on defense will also loom quite large as well. Here I will go into detail assessing the front seven personnel of the Titans heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at the first edge defender spot is 2018 4th rounder John Franklin-Myers who is a very strong player at the position. Franklin-Myers has graded in the well above average to elite range in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in every season he has played thus far outside of his rookie year. Franklin-Myers may not be a superstar having never garnered a Pro-Bowl selection in his career but is a very good to a great player.
2019 1st rounder Jeffery Simmons is set to start at the first of the two interior defensive line spots for the Titans and is among the premier defensive players in the sport. Simmons has made three All-Pro teams including receiving first team All-Pro honors for the first time during the 2025 season. Simmons has also made four Pro Bowls and is one of the premier interior defensive linemen in the sport today.
At the remaining starting interior defensive line spot former third rounder Jordan Elliott is set to start for the Titans and is perhaps the weak link in their starting front seven as of now. Elliott has graded as among the worst players at his position for five straight seasons now and will likely transition to a reserve role next season. However, Saleh must still see something in him to list him as the starter, as Elliott did have a solid rookie season before his consistent steak of poor play, and was drafted pretty highly for a reason.
2022 1st rounder Jermaine Johnson is set to start at the other edge defender spot for the Titans and is a very talented player with some question marks. Johnson got off to a strong start to his career, playing very well as a rookie and making the Pro Bowl in year 2 in 2023. However, he suffered a season ending torn achilles in the early part of the 2024 season and returned during the 2025 season but played at a subpar level in 2025. Now Johnson is reunited with his former Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh, and it remains to be seen if he can recapture strong form although I am optimistic he should be able to.
At the first of the starting linebacker spots is 2024 4th rounder Cedric Gray who is coming off an astounding 2025 campaign. Gray struggled in very limited rookie snaps but then in 2025 he graded as a top ten overall linebacker in the NFL taking over 900 snaps. Gray could certainly emerge as a household name at linebacker starting next season. The remaining starting linebacker core for the Titans is concerning however as neither current listed starter feels like a bonafide starter. Although 2019 3rd rounder Cody Barton was drafted pretty highly and has shown some potential to be a starter.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the Titans have multiple notable names that could loom large. As those names could not only serve the team as high end backups but also could potentially transition to a starting role given some of the holes that the Titans currently have in their starting front seven as of now. 2025 2nd round pick edge defender Oluwafemi Oladejo had mostly a poor rookie season in limited snaps but could break out in year 2 with more experience and an elite defensive coaching staff, living up to his high draft potential. The team drafted edge defender Keldric Faulk in the 1st round of the 2026 draft and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr in the 2nd round of the 2026 draft. Both will be expected to contribute to a thin Titans’ front seven as rookies. The Titans also have multiple other reserve front seven players with potential who could contribute as well. With the most noteworthy being former 1st rounder Solomon Thomas who has struggled in the NFL but showed promise for the first time during the 2025 season as such a high draft pick.
Overall, the Titans have some talent but a lot of question marks in their front seven as of now. John Franklin-Myers, Jeffery Simmons, Jermaine Johnson, and Cedric Gray are four borderline elite to elite starters and those four form an elite foundation for the Titans’ front seven. The remaining three starting spots are big question marks however as none of the remaining currently listed starters feel like starters or even high-end backups. The Titans drafted three front seven players in the 1st and 2nd round over the past two seasons and are perhaps hoping they can presume those starting roles. While former 1st rounder Solomon Thomas remains a wild card as he showed potential for the first time in his career during the 2025 season. A breakdown of the Titans’ front seven heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Titans’ Projected Starting Front Seven
LDE – John Franklin-Myers – B+
LDT – Jeffery Simmons – A to A-
RDT – Jordan Elliot- D+ to C-
RDE – Jermaine Johnson – B to B+
WLB – Cedric Gray – A-
MLB – Cody Barton – C to C+
SLB – James Williams Sr – C
Notable 2026 Titans’ Reserve Front Seven PlayersÂ
ED – Olu Oladejo – 2025 2nd rounder, poor as rookie in limited snaps
DT – Solomon Thomas – C to C+, 2017 1st rounder, above average defense grade according to Pro Football Focus for first time in 2025
ED – Keldric Faulk – 2026 1st rounder
LB – Anthony Hill Jr – 2026 2nd rounder
