As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the Tennessee Titans face an intriguing question: should they add one more veteran pass rusher to their revamped defensive line? General Manager Mike Borgonzi has been busy reshaping this unit in head coach Robert Saleh’s image, bringing in several players who thrived under Saleh in New York and San Francisco. The new additions include Jermaine Johnson II, Jacob Martin, John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas, and Jordan Elliott. They also traded up to the 31st overall pick to draft EDGE Keldric Faulk, a player tailor-made for Saleh’s system. Of those, Johnson, Martin, and Faulk are pure edge rushers, while Franklin-Myers will see time on the outside as well.
Despite this influx of talent, there’s a lingering sense that the Titans’ edge rush isn’t quite elite—or even above average. A lot of it comes down to projection. In base defense, the Titans might start Johnson and Faulk on the edges. But Johnson is coming off an Achilles injury in 2024 and a down season in 2025, while Faulk is a rookie who managed just two sacks last year at Auburn. Behind them, the depth chart features Martin, a proven rotational piece; Femi Oladejo, who needs a big sophomore leap after a disappointing, injury-shortened rookie year; and Jaylen Harrell, who finished 2025 strong but remains a back-end rotational option.
Given how active the Titans have been this offseason, they’re likely done adding edge rushers. But the question lingers: should they reconsider? A wave of free-agent signings typically follows the NFL Draft, and the market got a boost this week when the Seahawks signed Dante Fowler Jr. Still available are notable veterans like Joey Bosa, Cameron Jordan, Haason Reddick, Leonard Floyd, Mike Danna, and Kyle Van Noy. Interestingly, Saleh coached Bosa’s brother, Nick, in San Francisco, and Borgonzi knows Danna from his time in Kansas City. Saleh’s defensive scheme should help boost the Titans’ sack numbers, especially with elite defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons drawing double teams inside. Adding a proven veteran edge rusher could be the final piece that turns a promising unit into a dominant one.