The Tennessee Titans have made significant upgrades to their defense, addressing major weaknesses and implementing changes across position groups. Head coach Robert Saleh's influence is evident as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
Key points
Titans upgraded their defense significantly for the 2026 season
Head coach Robert Saleh's influence is evident in the changes
Most starters and rotational players are already signed
Jeffery Simmons is a key player on the defensive line
Mentioned in this story
Robert SalehJeffery Simmons
Tennessee Titans
Dec 28, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) celebrates the fumble of New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) celebrates the fumble of New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Titansā defense is taking on the identity of head coach Robert Saleh in a hurry. When you look at each position group and how itās changed this spring, the results might be surprising for both good and concerning reasonsā¦
The 2026 player acquisition cycle is officially over!
At least, it's mostly over. There's always a trickle of veteran signings that run through to the end of training camp. But for the most part, the starters and primary rotational players on this Titans team are already here. So let's take a step back to inspect Mike Borgonzi's work.
I asked my followers on Twitter how they wanted me to do this, and more than half of them agreed: let's look at how each position group has changed from the beginning of last season to today.
Keep an eye out for the offensive version of this exercise on AtoZSports.com soon. But here, let's rank which defensive rooms have upgraded the most on paper.
1. Cornerback
September 2025:LāJarius Sneed, Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee Jr, Darrell Baker Jr, Marcus Harris, Jalyn Armour-Davis
Q&A
What major changes did the Titans make to their defense for 2026?
The Titans addressed significant weaknesses by upgrading their defensive line and making strategic player acquisitions.
How has head coach Robert Saleh influenced the Titans' defense?
Robert Saleh's coaching style is shaping the Titans' defensive identity, leading to notable changes in player roles and strategies.
Who are the key players on the Titans' defense for the 2026 season?
Key players include defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and other starters acquired during the offseason.
What remaining needs does the Titans' defense have despite the upgrades?
Despite significant improvements, there are still some sneaky big needs that the Titans must address as the season approaches.
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I'm putting cornerback 1st in this ranking and I'm cheating just a little bit. The initial trio for 2025 lasted for what felt like 7 seconds. Sneed's body failed him again, Brownlee was traded in the first month, and McCreary was moved before the trade deadline too. So I'm partially considering them, but also partially considering who played most of the season.
For the majority of the year, this team's coverage ability was prohibitively bad. Expectations sank to basically zero. Borgonzi went out and spent big in free agency to change that. Taylor and Flott on the outside are expensive, but should be very solid. Harris in the slot should be where he is at his best. The only remaining concern is depthā¦ which they still need badly.
May 2026:Jermaine Johnson, Femi Oladejo, Keldric Faulk, Jacob Martin, Jaylen Harrell
With both EDGE and DL, the distinction between the rooms is a little blurry. A handful of these guys bump inside and out depending on the situation, I know. So don't get bent out of shape with how I classified them on these lists.
Dre'Mont Jones was the only EDGE last season with any consistent juice. This year's group has the upside to bring a lot more to the table. Johnson is a year removed from his big injury, Oladejo is back healthy in year 2, and rookie Keldric Faulk rounds out a group that should be much more serviceable at the very least.
3. Defensive Line
September 2025:Jeffery Simmons, TāVondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, James Lynch, Shy Tuttle, CJ Ravenell
May 2026:Jeffery Simmons, John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, Solomon Thomas, Jackie Marshall, CJ Ravenell
Jeffery Simmons is a gravitational player you have to build around. The Titans have done exactly that in 2026. Robert Saleh's approach on the DL seems to basically be just reuniting the best versions of his prior fronts, which isn't a bad approach! Those groups have been very strong.
The 2025 interior DL was sneaky solid, but I think the ceiling for this year's group is even higher.
4. Linebacker
September 2025:Cody Barton, Cedric Gray, James Williams, Dorian Mausi
May 2026:Cedric Gray, Cody Barton, Anthony Hill,Mohamoud Diabate, James Williams, Dorian Mausi
The change in how linebackers will play in this Titans defense in 2026 is more interesting to me than the change in actual personnel. Drafting Anthony Hill at 60th overall is exactly what I thought the Titans would do for Robert Saleh, who has a history of maximizing players taken in this range with athletic traits and upside. But I do wonder how quickly he will be involved in this year starting defense.
I think everyone is a little bit lower on Cody Barton right now than they probably should be, especially with his institutional knowledge of the position that Robert Saleh is going to want from his mike linebacker. all in all, I think the linebacker room has been modestly upgraded in the near term.
5. Safety
September 2025:Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, Kevin Winston Jr, Quandre Diggs, Mike Brown
May 2026:Amani Hooker, Kevin Winston Jr, Tony Adams, Kendell Brooks, Sanoussi Kane
I continue to wonder why we aren't talking about the Titans' safety room more than we are. I'm as excited as anybody about Winston Jr's second year, and Amani Hooker should be able to play in position more frequently this season, allowing him to play at a more consistent level.
But after those two, are we comfortable with the rotational ability of this group? Is anybody comfortable with the depth that would be leaned upon if either of these starters gets hurt? I know that I'm not. On paper, this room is a downgrade right now based purely on Borgonzi not adding any depth to the room. I'd be shocked if there isn't another veteran safety or two on this roster by the end of August.
