The Tennessee Titans will enter training camp with a new-look defensive line. Head coach Robert Saleh was allowed the freedom to revamp the room this offseason. He especially made sweeping changes at the defensive end positions.
The Titans traded for veteran Jermaine Johnson II and signed Jacob Martin, two experienced rushers who previously played for Saleh. They also moved back into the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft for a Saleh-approved prospect in Keldric Faulk. Sophomore pass rusher Femi Oladejo is expected to round out the top four at EDGE.
Assuming the Titans keep a fifth pass rusher, third-year pro Jaylen Harrell is the in-house favorite for that role. That creates enough doubt to say Harrell isn't a surefire lock to make the 53-man roster. Cutting him feels like a legitimate risk after how he concluded the 2025 campaign.
Jaylen Harrell can help the Titans' defensive pass-rush depth
Harrell was one of the most ineffective pass rushers in the league as a rookie in 2024. The former Michigan standout looked every bit of the seventh-round prospect he was. Harrell registered just five pressures on 129 pass-rushing snaps, with an inefficient win percentage of 1.6%, according to Pro Football Focus.
Harrell looked significantly improved as a sophomore. He started getting significantly more playing time as the Titans' lifeless season began winding down. Harrell totaled 4.5 sacks by notching at least a half-sack in Tennessee's final five games. He accumulated 20 QB pressures and improved that pass-rush-win-percentage to 7.8%.
Based on how Saleh has discussed the Titans' defensive line rotation, five rostered pass rushers feels certain. Harrell could face competition from free-agent signing Malik Herring for that role. Herring has a history with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi dating back to their shared Kansas City Chiefs days.
Harrell enjoyed a mini breakout towards the conclusion of his sophomore campaign. He'll enter training camp trying to re-prove his worth as a pass rusher to a new coaching staff. Harrell should endear himself to Coach Saleh while learning a new defensive system.
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