Robert Saleh's history says one of his top priorities in turning around the Tennessee Titans will be focusing on the defense. He is a defensive-minded coach after all. Last year the Titans defense ranked 21st in yards per game allowed, 28th in EPA/play and 28th in points per game.
One of the hallmarks of a Saleh defense is linebacker play. Last year in San Francisco Saleh got the most out of Dee Winters, Tatum Bethune, Curtis Robinson and Eric Kendricks in the midst of a ridiculous string of injuries. Head coach Kyle Shanahan went out of his way to praise the backup linebackers who were thrust into a starting role during their wild card win over the Eagles.
"...Having two linebackers who weren't on our team a month ago, and those guys playing the whole game, and playing at a high level, was so impressive."Kyle Shanahan, 49ers head coach
Those performances were no doubt a byproduct of Saleh's tutelage. Over the years he has coaxed impressive play out of multiple backers. Fred Warner developed into an All-Pro under his watch. Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosely both had some of the best seasons of their careers playing with Saleh as their head coach. And Jamien Sherwood developed from a fifth-round draft pick into one of the better linebackers in the NFL in 2024.
How Robert Saleh Can Get The Most Out of His Linebacker Room
One of the bright spots of the 2025 season for the Titans was the play of second-year linebacker Cedric Gray. He posted 164 tackles, seven for a loss, four passes defensed and one sack. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 7th-best linebacker in the NFL. No doubt Saleh is excited to get to work with him as one of the foundational pieces of his defense.
But next to Gray is still anyone's guess. Veteran Cody Barton played more snaps than any other Titan last year. He is guaranteed over $6 million in 2026. But he is also approaching 30 years old. Ascending third-year pro James Williams could push Barton for starting snaps.
But there may be a third option. An external signing that could take the group to one of the better units in the NFL. Nakobe Dean is a pending free agent. There is a better than 50% chance that he will make it to market as the Eagles spent a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell and gave Zack Baun a sizeable contract last year. Those two look to be the future of the position in Philadelphia.
Dean possesses many of the qualities Saleh values in his linebackers. His smaller size isn't an issue as Saleh has had success with Sherwood and Williams, who are both smaller. And his fluid athleticism and coverage skills help him take on more assignments and roles than most linebackers.
That's precisely what Saleh needs to implement his four-down-and-go defensive system. Dean works well in space and has traditionally not been asked to play on the line. Last year he was used on the ball just 4% of the time. Saleh keeps his linebackers off the line mostly, but when he does mug up, Gray has the size and experience to fill that role, leaving Dean free to roam at the second level.
Both players have more experience working as the "MIKE" in their respective defenses, but Dean's skillset can work well as the will linebacker in Saleh's scheme allowing him to be a chase-and-tackle player where he can thrive.
The best defenses in the NFL right now are succeeding in part to a strong linebacker group. Seattle, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville and Cleveland all had strong linebacking corps. Saleh's own history shows that he prefers strong linebacker play as one of the pillars for his defense. Nakobe Dean, paired with Cedric Gray, could accelerate that process for him in Tennessee.