Social media comment from a valuable free agent makes it seem like he wants to follow the Titans’ latest coaching staff addition

Could Robert Saleh’s newest hire be a key to landing a familiar free agent addition?

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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The Tennessee Titans have a massive free agency of spending coming up next month, and one of their greatest needs is pass rush on defense. The cupboard is pretty bare at EDGE, and you can never have too much help along the DL either. GM Mike Borgonzi is somebody who wants to prioritize the trenches, and I expect he will put his cap money where his mouth is on that philosophy.

New Head Coach Robert Saleh has history with a number of the defensive front players set to hit free agency, including Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers. And when it was announced last week that Saleh had hired a new coach to his staff, a comment on Instagram made it seem like Franklin-Myers might be actively interested in coming to Tennessee too.

John Franklin-Myers comments cryptic message on new Titans coach’s post

The Titans announced Friday that Robert Saleh had hired Tanzel Smart as an assistant DL coach.

Smart played for the Rams from 2017-2019, then for the Jets from 2020-2023. So Smart is going from playing for Robert Saleh and DL coach Aaron Whitecotton, to working with them on the Titans.

Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers, whose contract is set to expire this spring, played with Smart and for Saleh and Whitecotton on the Jets from 2021-2023. And when the news of Smart’s hire came out last week, Franklin-Myers commented on his Instagram post saying “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

That sounds like a free agent who has a new preferred destination to me!

Franklin-Myers is heading into Year 8 in the NFL, in which he’ll turn 30 years old. He’s been with the Broncos playing out a 2 year, $15 million deal since 2024. Last year he managed 7.5 sacks, 15 QB hits and 6 tackles for loss. At 6’4″ 288lbs, he has some inside-out versatility similar to what Jihad Ward brought to the table for the Titans last season. Franklin-Myers leans more outside than Ward, though, and his services as a pass rusher would be extremely valuable to Saleh’s 2026 squad.

His Over The Cap valuation is $6.1 million AAV, a dip from what he made the past two seasons as a result of his age no doubt. I wouldn’t be surprised to see his production plus the scarcity of the pass rush market push his price tag up, though. And the Titans can afford to out-bid anybody in the league this year with all of their cap space.

I’m extremely wary of trying to fix your EDGE problems in free agency. Fearsome pass rushes are built in the draft, not in March. But a reasonably-priced veteran who comes in offering proven production and significant familiarity with the coaching staff is just about the best you can ask for in my opinion. They have to spend to establish a floor at this position next month, and going after Franklin-Myers is as good an option as any. Especially if he really wants to be here.

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