Titans bolster Saleh's defense, adding another key edge rusher in John Franklin-Myers, transforming their pass rush.
Just when you thought the Tennessee Titans had already made their splash signing, GM Mike Borgonzi had another move up his sleeve.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans are signing former Denver Broncos and New York Jets defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers to a three-year, $63 million deal.
Before Monday, the Titans went ahead and traded for a player with ties to head coach Robert Saleh in edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II. The Titans sent T’Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in exchange, bringing in one of Saleh’s former players from New York.
Johnson now projects as one of the primary edge rushers in Saleh’s defense in Tennessee.
Franklin-Myers gives Saleh yet another familiar face — and one that should play a major role in how the Titans construct their defensive front.
While Franklin-Myers is listed as a defensive end, his most valuable role in Saleh’s system has traditionally come inside. Expect him to serve as an interior pass-rushing partner alongside All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, where his versatility allows him to move across the defensive line in passing situations.
In Saleh’s attacking front, Franklin-Myers frequently lined up as a 3-technique or interior rusher in sub-packages, creating pressure up the middle rather than operating strictly as a traditional edge defender.
That interior pairing with Simmons could become one of the most disruptive elements of Tennessee’s defensive front moving forward. And while help off the edge remains a need, the Titans should be able to generate plenty of pressure on defense from the interior defensive line.
Franklin-Myers is also a known friend and former teammate of Jermaine Johnson II from their time together with the Jets, which should help the two quickly build chemistry within the Titans’ new defensive system.
It also sort of telegraphed this free agent move.
This is a clear indication that Borgonzi and the Titans are prioritizing familiarity as they reshape the roster.
The Titans signed Mitchell Trubisky from the Buffalo Bills to be their backup behind Cam Ward, giving the rookie quarterback an experienced veteran presence in the room.
The team then found a blocking tight end to complement Gunnar Helm, bringing in Daniel Bellinger from the New York Giants.
Tennessee also added another former Giants player in receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, who just had a breakout season with the team in 2025 and gives the Titans another dynamic option in the passing game.
Trubisky, Bellinger, and Robinson have all played for Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in the past. And both Franklin-Myers and Johnson have played under Saleh.
Franklin-Myers spent one season with the Rams before being waived in 2019 and picked up by the Jets. After one year under Adam Gase, Franklin-Myers remained with the team when Saleh took over as head coach in 2021 and quickly became a key piece of that defensive front.
Franklin-Myers spent 2020–23 with the Jets and accounted for 17.5 sacks, 125 total tackles, and 21 tackles for loss during that stretch. His ability to generate pressure from multiple alignments made him one of the more versatile defensive linemen on the market.
He has spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos and was part of their dominant pass rush that led the NFL with 68 sacks in 2025.
Franklin-Myers accounted for 14.5 sacks combined over the last two seasons in Denver, continuing to prove that he can generate pressure whether lining up outside or kicking inside on passing downs.
The Titans clearly are not afraid to make aggressive moves this offseason, and they may not be finished yet.
But one thing is already becoming clear: Tennessee is building this defense around Robert Saleh’s vision — and they’re bringing in the players who already know how to run it.