The Tennessee Titans are entering the 2026 season with a completely rebuilt roster. On both sides of the ball, the new staff emphasized signing players with familiarity to each coach's scheme. From the Robert Saleh regime with players like Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin Myers, and then to Brian Daboll's former Giants with Wan'Dale Robinson and Austin Schlottman, this new roster is filled with familiar faces.
One of these acquisitions has seemingly slipped through the cracks and is a former top-three NFL Draft selection that deserves a little more attention.
Defensive Tackle Solomon Thomas will be reuniting with Saleh for his 10th year in the league. Thomas previously played under Tennessee's new head coach in both San Francisco and New York. In 2023 under Saleh, Solomon had his career-best season playing all 17 games recording 31 tackles and five sacks for the Jets. He spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys under Titans current defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton.
Former NFL Draft bust Solomon Thomas will be a key veteran for the Titans
Thomas blended in with the many signings the Titans made, but he will have a prominent role this upcoming season. With John Franklin-Myers and Jeffrey Simmons nearing age 30, a frequent rotation will be established between downs in 2026, and Thomas will be a name we will see get plenty of snaps. At 6-3 and 285 pounds, Thomas has a leaner build compared to the average defensive lineman, but it works perfectly in the Saleh 4-3 system that relies on speed and explosiveness.
The former top-three pick has spent nearly his whole career playing in Saleh's defense. Thomas will enter the season not only as a rotational player, but also as a veteran who will be helping teammates learn the in's and out's of the scheme. Rookies Keldric Faulk and Jackie Marshall, and even Simmons will likely look to Thomas for guidance throughout this big learning curve.
Thomas certainly hasn't lived up to the initial top draft pick status, but he has turned himself into a staple of the Saleh regime. The Titans acquired Thomas in a seventh round pick swap with the Cowboys earlier this offseason, which obviously isn't a drastic haul, but it still shows the Titans felt he was a necessary addition to this new-look roster.
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