The Tennessee Titans will enter the 2026 NFL Draft with a fairly sizable hole at EDGE. This opinion has generated some debate in recent weeks. Prized free agency signing John Franklin-Myers has enough flexibility to play outside on occasion, as previously said by Robert Saleh.
The Titans also traded for Jermaine Johnson II. They signed Jacob Martin in free agency. Saleh knows Franklin-Myers, Johnson, and Martin from previous coaching stops. The Titans also have Femi Oladejo and Jaylen Harrell on the roster.
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None of those players are elite pass rushers. Franklin-Myers is easily the best listed, and should spend time inside next to Jeffery Simmons. Franklin-Myers taking snaps outside just means another average interior player (Solomon Thomas, Jordan Elliott) gets on the field.
Johnson is coming off a disappointing season in which he was ineffective while recovering from a 2024 torn Achilles. Martin is a rotational defender at best. Oladejo and Harrell still have a lot to prove.
The Titans could draft an EDGE rusher at No. 4 overall. If so, Rueben Bain Jr., Arvell Reese, and David Bailey are the consensus top three prospects at the position. We’ve ranked them 1-3 from the Titans’ perspective, using our analysis.
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Can the Titans overlook Bain’s arm length deficiencies? He’s a physical tone setter who would finish this defensive line’s transformation. Bain is versatile enough to interchange with Franklin-Myers in an inside-outside role. His red-hot motor, active hands, and power would be an excellent fit to complete Saleh’s vision.
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Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arvell Reese feels like the in-house favorite to be selected by the New York Jets at No. 2 overall. He’s a versatile defender who will either continue playing as an off-ball linebacker, or make a full-time transition to EDGE. It’s easy to envision Saleh appreciating Reese as a prospect. He’s an EDGE-linebacker hybrid, playing two positions Saleh has a personal affinity for. His explosiveness, play strength, and athleticism would be well-utilized in this defense.
David Bailey, Texas Tech
David Bailey was the most commonly mocked EDGE to the Titans roughly five-six weeks ago. That pattern has been somewhat discontinued. Bailey has straightline speed and explosion, but his lower-body agility and change of direction has been questioned. The Titans have similar EDGEs on the roster from a play-style perspective, so one wonders if Bain and Reese would be better fits.
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