Robert Saleh totally blew up the Tennessee Titans’ defensive line, bringing in five veterans who already know his system. But with training camp kicking off July 28th at Vanderbilt Health Football Camp, not everyone is a lock, and second-year guy Femi Oladejo is already on ‘bust watch,’ which is wild after being a second-round pick. This D-line has 16 guys on the offseason roster, and Saleh has made it clear he’s shaking things up big time.
Saleh’s Vision for the Titans’ Trenches
General Manager Mike Borgonzi went all-in on Saleh’s vision, making some big-time acquisitions to revamp this entire position group. Saleh got the green light to totally transform the defensive line, and he leaned into familiarity. Borgonzi brought in five veterans via free agency and trades who had already played for Saleh, either with the 49ers or the Jets. We’re talking about John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson II, Solomon Thomas, Jordan Elliott, and Jacob Martin. These guys were targeted because they already know Saleh’s scheme inside and out, which should mean less ramp-up time and more immediate impact, right? On top of that, Saleh even approved trading up for Keldric Faulk, grabbing him at No. 31 overall in the draft. It’s clear the Titans are betting big on this new look upfront. They’re expecting stars like Jeffery Simmons and Franklin-Myers to be the dominant forces on this line, setting the tone for everyone else.
The Pressure Cooker: Oladejo and the Edge Rush Battle
While there’s a lot of veteran talent, the biggest storyline for individual performance has to be Femi Oladejo. He’s officially on “bust watch,” and that’s not a label you want to see attached to a second-round pick. Titans fans immediately questioned Borgonzi’s decision to draft him. Oladejo was a raw prospect coming out of UCLA, even making a position switch from linebacker to EDGE in his final college season. He didn’t register a single sack as a rookie and then suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6. Ouch. He’s got everything to prove in Nashville.
Saleh has been talking about rotating defensive linemen early and often, especially at edge. That means guys like Martin, Oladejo, Johnson, and rookie Faulk are all going to be battling it out for snaps. Don’t forget Jaylen Harrell, who had a strong conclusion to his 2025 campaign and could definitely get into that mix too. Elliott and Thomas are going to be playing supporting roles behind Simmons and Franklin-Myers, adding depth and experience. And then there’s rookie Jackie Marshall, trying to claw his way onto the 53-man roster against competition from Cam Horsley and Jalyn Holmes. Everyone else? They’re likely just camp bodies.
Training camp starts July 28th, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for some of these guys. Will Oladejo finally show why he was a second-round pick, or will the “bust watch” label stick? Can Jermaine Johnson II regain his form after that 2024 Achilles injury? And how will all these new pieces gel under Saleh’s familiar scheme? It’s going to be a battle to watch as they figure out who makes the cut and who gets to define this new-look Titans D-line.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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