John Franklin-myers at the center of a quiet tug-of-war: teams chase the same fix for two very different problems
In a free-agency market where defensive lines can be rebuilt in a single signing, john franklin-myers has surfaced as a shared target — not because teams agree on everything, but because they see the same player as the answer to two different questions.
Why are the Titans lining up familiar faces around John Franklin-myers?
Tennessee has signaled that retooling its defensive front is a priority under new head coach Robert Saleh, with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons framed internally as the centerpiece. The early roster movement points to an aggressive reset: the Titans traded nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in exchange for EDGE Jermaine Johnson II, a player Saleh previously coached in East Rutherford.
The underlying logic is straightforward: build around Simmons by adding talent that complements him. With general manager Mike Borgonzi equipped with roughly $92 million in cap space, the Titans have room to pursue veteran help in free agency. In that context, john franklin-myers is presented as an “ideal sidekick” for Simmons — a player whose versatility can function next to a dominant interior presence.
The connections are unusually dense. Franklin-Myers previously played for Saleh and new Titans defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton with the Jets. Johnson, now in Tennessee, has been publicly recruiting Franklin-Myers to the Titans; they were teammates under Saleh and Whitecotton. Even Titans assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart shared that same Jets orbit, deepening the sense that the pursuit is as much about scheme and familiarity as it is about talent.
What’s driving Cincinnati’s pursuit after losing Joseph Ossai?
Cincinnati entered free agency with pressing defensive needs, then saw the situation tighten in the early stages. NFL insider Adam Schefter stated that edge rusher Joseph Ossai agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal with the New York Jets. The same context also points to more change coming: Trey Hendrickson is expected to sign elsewhere.
With those departures in view, Cincinnati’s interest has shifted toward the interior. Charlie Clifford, Sports Anchor at WLWT Channel 5 in Cincinnati, stated that the Bengals are actively targeting Denver Broncos defensive lineman john franklin-myers in free agency. Clifford further characterized Franklin-Myers as a potential early “domino” in the defensive tackle market.
The football case Cincinnati is making is rooted in production and role. Franklin-Myers has recorded 14 1/2 sacks across two years in Denver, and the same assessment casts him as both an “excellent pass rusher” and a stout run defender. The implication is that the Bengals see a defensive tackle who can address multiple shortcomings at once — pressure up front and sturdiness against the run — after a difficult season for their defensive line.
There is also a financial reality baked into Cincinnati’s pursuit: the Bengals would need to “put up the money to land him. ” The same framing suggests that if Cincinnati signs Franklin-Myers, it would represent their biggest free-agency addition since the team’s 2021 signing of Hendrickson, and it could become the largest contract the Bengals have given to a free agent in team history.
What his Denver season tells teams — and what it doesn’t
Franklin-Myers arrives to this moment with a narrative that teams like to sell: an underdog arc paired with tangible output. A fourth-round pick out of Stephen F. Austin in 2018, he has “consistently improved” and just posted a personal-best 7. 5 sacks and 39 pressures while playing on what is described as a stacked Broncos defensive line this past season. That combination of role and results has positioned him for a significant payday in free agency.
Verified facts from the provided context are limited to the pursuit signals and the cited production: the Titans are linked to him; the Bengals are actively targeting him; his recent statistical output in Denver is highlighted; Tennessee has cap space; Cincinnati has recently lost Ossai and expects Hendrickson to leave. There are no contract terms for Franklin-Myers yet in the provided material, and no confirmation of which team — if any — is closest to a deal.
Informed analysis: What makes this market unusual is that Tennessee’s pitch is cohesion and familiarity — coaches and players who already know how to deploy him — while Cincinnati’s pitch is urgency created by departures and the need to stabilize a struggling defensive line. The same player is being framed as a luxury fit next to a star in Tennessee and as a potential turning-point acquisition in Cincinnati.
As of Monday in free agency (ET), what is clear is the convergence: two teams, two distinct roster motivations, and one defensive lineman whose recent Denver production is now the common language of their pursuit. The next development will be whether john franklin-myers chooses the comfort of a familiar coaching ecosystem or the leverage of a team signaling it’s ready to spend big to fill a growing defensive void.
