Don't look now, but there's some optimism building around the Tennessee Titans. After what has become an annual offseason overhaul, Robert Saleh's squad is set up to be competent, if not competitive in 2026.
That progress was highlighted in Nick Shook's recent power rankings on NFL.com, where the Titans ranked 24th. Tennessee finished with the fourth-worst record in the league last season. A five-spot jump isn't the leap into playoff contention that fans would hope for, but it reflects the shift that Saleh has brought to the franchise.
Now, it's time to deliver on the hype.
Robert Saleh's Titans are finally earning recognition around the NFL
Shook recognized that putting the Titans ahead of teams like the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants is a bold take, but it's not unfounded.
He said, "Robert Saleh assembled a defense filled with his type of guys, and while I'm not yet convinced the unit will be significantly better, its identity should at least be more aggressive. The Titans could use some aggression, starting with this ranking."
Saleh consistently gets the most out of his players on defense. Even dating back to his time as the head coach of the New York Jets, he elevated his defenders. In Saleh's final two seasons in charge, the Jets ranked in the league's top five in yards allowed. He even pieced together a competent unit last season with the San Francisco 49ers, despite fielding a depleted squad.
This Titans defense needs to see a similar effect in 2026. The unit ranked 28th in points allowed and 21st in yards allowed last season. Outside of Jeffery Simmons, players struggled to perform at a high level consistently.
Saleh should provide a significant lift to the defense. As Shook mentioned, he supplemented the group with players that fit his aggressive, physical style. John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson should establish a stronger presence up front, allowing players at the second and third levels to make more plays.
It may be too lofty to expect a top-ten finish for the defense, but Saleh has the tools to put together a league-average unit.
If his aggressive mentality bleeds over into the offense, and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll develops Cam Ward into a more controlled quarterback, the Titans will be significantly better on both sides of the ball. It's not hard to see how they could outperform Shook's optimistic expectations this season.
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