The Tennessee ****** ans' defensive line has become one of the team's biggest reasons for optimism heading into the 2026 season. After a disappointing defensive performance last year, Tennessee made significant changes up front after bringing in defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh.
Those additions have helped raise expectations for Saleh's defense. However, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the ****** ans' defensive line still has something to prove, as they ranked Tennessee 17th among NFL defensive lines entering the 2026 season.
While that ranking may not put the ****** ans among the league's elite defensive fronts yet, it's an intriguing starting point for a unit that could have one of the biggest impacts on a potential turnaround in Nashville.
The number 17 ranking from PFF isn't necessarily a criticism. It just shows how much room the ****** ans have to climb to prove worthy of higher recognition. Specifically, this is what PFF had to say about the ****** ans' placement in their rankings:
The strength of the ****** ans' defensive line is on the interior, where Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers have the potential to form a devastating pass-rushing duo. Simmons earned a 91.4 PFF pass-rush grade in 2025, while Franklin-Myers posted a career-high 84.3 mark in 2024.

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