The Titans have Jeffery Simmons locked up. They have Cam Ward under center. And they have Robert Saleh calling defensive shots. That’s a decent three-piece foundation, but no one in Nashville is pretending the roster is deep.
What Tennessee doesn’t have yet is a supporting cast that can actually win games in December. That’s where the late-round picks and second-year projects come in. The 2026 season isn’t about stars anymore. It’s about identifying which role players can become something more.
Two names keep coming up in conversations around the facility: Femi Oladejo and Gunnar Helm. One is an edge rusher still learning his own position. The other is a tight end who might be exactly what a young quarterback needs.
Femi Oladejo: A Second-Year Edge Rusher Built for Saleh’s Rotation
Oladejo was a second-round pick in 2025, but his rookie year didn’t generate much buzz. That’s partly because he’s still figuring out how to rush the passer. He played off-ball linebacker at UCLA before moving to edge, and that transition takes time. His athleticism is obvious. The technique is catching up.
Saleh has already said Oladejo will be used in multiple roles this season: dropping into coverage, lined up as a traditional linebacker, and rushing from different spots. That flexibility matters because Saleh’s defensive philosophy hinges on keeping linemen fresh for third down and two-minute situations. He’s said it repeatedly. Fresh legs win those moments.
The Titans need speed off the edge. Simmons draws double teams inside, and that opens one-on-one opportunities outside. Oladejo just has to win enough of those to force offenses to think twice about where they slide protection. If he can do that and occasionally drop into a zone, it changes the math for opposing coordinators.
His rookie tape showed flashes. The hand usage needs work. He doesn’t have a consistent counter move yet. But those are typical year-two problems for a player still new to the position. The difference in Tennessee is that the scheme is built to get him on the field in high-leverage situations. He doesn’t need to be a superstar. He just needs to be disruptive enough to keep drives alive.
Gunnar Helm: The Tight End Every Young Quarterback Needs
Helm was a fourth-round pick out of Texas, and his college resume is steady without being flashy. Fifty-four games. Sixteen starts as a senior. Reliable hands. Decent yards after catch. Nothing about his scouting report screams “star,” but that’s not what Ward needs right now.
Ward is going to face the usual rookie struggles. Coverage rotations are faster. Windows are tighter. The speed of the game is different. A tight end who can find space underneath, win on third-and-4, and give a clean target in the red zone is worth more than another deep threat who disappears for three quarters.
The Titans have worked to upgrade the wide receiver room, but a reliable tight end might be Ward’s best friend by November. Helm doesn’t need to run past anyone. He needs to understand spacing, shield defenders, and catch the ball in traffic. Those are the traits that build trust between a quarterback and his safety valve.
Red zone efficiency is another area where Helm could help. Tennessee struggled near the goal line last season, and having a big target who can sit down in zone windows is a simple fix. It doesn’t require elite athleticism. It requires awareness and hands. Helm has both.
If he can stay on the field in balanced formations and improve as a blocker, he becomes a three-down player. That’s the kind of development that turns a fourth-round pick into a long-term piece.
The Titans aren’t going to win the division on paper. They have too many holes. But they have a coach with a specific defensive vision, a young quarterback with talent, and two second-year players who could grow into more than role players. That’s not a headline story yet. It might be by December.
Leave a Comment