Titans Pass-Rushing Duo Among Best in NFL

The Tennessee Titans' first offseason under Robert Saleh has been almost entirely defined by personnel changes on both the sidelines and the field. The team's new jerseys are also certainly worth a look, but what are neat threads without good players to wear them? The answer is little more than a bloated Fanatics receipt.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Titans appear to be a defense-heavy group more likely to win games on that side of the ball. Of course, Cam Ward could also break out into a full-blown star and lead Tennessee to a more competitive season than anyone previously thought. Fans can dream.

But in reality, the Titans already have some of the better defensive bones in the league. Saleh's play-calling has the chance to put that group over the top, and should have an especially positive impact on what appears to be the team's inarguable front-running duo.

A Disruptive Duo

According to Football Insights on X (Twitter), defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and defensive end John Franklin-Myers are two of the most statistically disruptive pass-rushers in the entire NFL. As a result of Saleh making an expensive move for the latter in free agency, the two individual defensive nightmares are now working for the same force in Nashville.

Simmons pulls a fair share ahead of Myers as the plain "No. 1" of the two, but taken in tandem? The Titans are employing two of the league's best defenders under one of the most renowned coordinators on that side of the ball. It's a nefarious mix that, amidst a wave of compelling news, may be the most exciting point of all for Titans fans.

DT pass rush win rate vs get-off over the last two seasons. Chris Jones has gotten home from multiple alignments pic.twitter.com/S7sMZGvjSi
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) April 1, 2026

With grabs such as Cordale Flott and Alontae Taylor in the secondary, to boot, Tennessee's defense has taken on a completely different identity. Now, all that's left to do is build that unit around the talent already signed-on, and watch the chips fall into place.

New York Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers (91) | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Building Around Simmons and Myers

With the NFL Draft less than one month away on the horizon, the Titans have a chance to pair workable rookies with the likes of Simmons and Franklin-Myers in the (at least) three year gap that the two will be together.

It's a time where past, present and future are meeting at a crucial nexus for the Titans franchise. If the front office plays their cards right, the team could successfully ground their identity in that side of the ball for a long time to come.

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