Jermaine Johnson and Keldric Faulk raise the floor considerably, but Tennessee still lacks the true speed rusher Robert Saleh has featured in previous defenses.
By DREW BEATTY, film analyst
Throughout the 2026 pre-draft news cycle, Tennessee Titans fans heard almost exclusively edge rushers mentioned as potential Titans’ draft candidates. While Tennessee obviously went a different direction with the fourth-overall pick, the thought process surrounding those pre-draft projections was still sound – as the Titans’ 2025 defensive unit suffered from a near-generational lack of edge presence.
Seven Titans outside linebackers combined for just 19.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and 54 quarterback hits.
With a room composed of Dre’Mont Jones (who was dealt at the trade deadline), Jihad Ward, Arden Key, second-round rookie Femi Oladejo and Jaylen Harrell, a lack of edge pressure was a crippling blow to an already struggling defensive unit. From that lackluster corps, only Harrell and Oladejo return for the 2026 season.
