The Tennessee Titans traded back up into the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select EDGE Keldric Faulk with the 31st overall pick. Faulk projects to play a similar role to recent free agent signing John Franklin-Myers, playing on the edge on early downs, and kicking inside on third downs.
Now that there is a better idea of how Saleh plans to utilize his interior defensive line, the next question up is the wide-nine role, the speedy pass rusher in this defensive scheme. The Titans traded for Jermaine Johnson back in February, and signed Jacob Martin in free agency. Both of those rushers are expected to play as Saleh's designated pass rusher, but where exactly does 2025 2nd round pick Femi Oladejo fit into all of this?
In a press conference during the 2026 NFL Draft, Saleh provided a much-needed update regarding Oladejo's future role on the team.
Tennessee Titans HC Robert Saleh has the perfect plan for Femi Oladejo
"I think a lot of people are forgetting about Femi," Saleh said. "He was drafted last year, he's a talented young man. We are gonna do our best to give him every opportunity to be successful as a Wide-9 edge rusher on 3rd down. We feel really good about the rotation being built here."
Oladejo's rookie season didn't go as planned. He suffered a leg fracture against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6 that sent him to injury reserve for the rest of the season. The first few weeks saw limited snaps with some run defense potential, but the injury ultimately derailed his debut campaign.
This upcoming sophomore season has potential to be a big step up. The opportunity to learn under Coach Saleh and play alongside former first-rounder Johnson at the wide-9 spot should really benefit Oladejo. It's also important to note he played limited snaps at EDGE in college to begin with, so there is still limited experience.
Having Oladejo play a rotational role while leaning on his elite athleticism may be the best bet for the Titans to maximize his value. Saleh has heavily emphasized the importance of depth for his defense, and it's refreshing to know Oladejo will have a pivotal role on the front.
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