The Denver Broncos knew they couldn’t keep every piece of what’s been the NFL’s best defense the last 2 years — especially after going 14-3 in 2025 and earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Still, it’s going to hurt to see defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers walk out the door on Monday, leaving for a 3-year, $63 million free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.
“A player like John Franklin-Myers is ultra rare in the NFL,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on Monday. “There aren’t many guys who can pass rush inside and outside with equal effectiveness. Huge pick up for Tennessee.”
Franklin-Myers will be reunited with his head coach on the New York Jets, Robert Saleh, who is in his 1st year as head coach of the Titans.
“BREAKING: The #Titans are signing former #Broncos DT John Franklin-Meyers to a 3 year 63M deal with 42M guaranteed, per sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account. “JFM was a super hot free agent and was a massive part of Denver’s defensive line success – with 14.5 sacks in two years … a massive pickup for the Titans.”
Franklin-Myers’ Broncos teammate and NFL All-Pro edge rusher Nik Bonitto was quick to chime in after the news broke.
“Damn my dawg,” Bonitto wrote on his official X account with the crying emoji. “Go be great!”
Market for JFM Skyrocketed Following Season
Fowler previously called Franklin-Myers the “Top Option” in free agency among interior defensive linemen.
“Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers could get a lot of interest,” Fowler wrote on March 1. “(Franklin-Myers) has been attached to the $20 million threshold in conversations. (He is) a productive player hitting the market at the right time, without a ton of competition at the position. Whatever the number ends up being, it will be strong. Franklin-Myers’ floor is already pretty high.”
With his new deal, the 6-foot-4, 288-pound Franklin-Myers will exceed the total amount of money he’s made in the last 2 years with the Broncos in under 1 season — he just played out a 2-year, $15 million contract.
JFM Landed High on Free Agent Rankings
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal put the 29-year-old Franklin-Myers at No. 25 in his Top 101 2026 free agency rankings.
“It’s crazy to think the Rams cut Franklin-Myers after his rookie year,” Rosenthal wrote on Sunday. “Since then, he’s earned more than $40 million on two veteran contracts and is headed for a third. Defensive tackles are aging better than ever lately, and JFM’s old Jets friend Robert Saleh is a head coach again, in Tennessee. ”
ESPN’s Matt Bowen put Franklin-Myers at No. 11 on his list of the Top 50 NFL free agents in the 2026 cycle.
“Franklin-Myers lacks the lateral speed and bend to turn pressures into a bunch of sacks from edge alignments,” Bowen wrote on January 28. “But he’s an active inside rusher who can play as a defensive tackle or 5-technique with his 6-foot-4, 288-pound frame. He had 7.5 sacks and 23 pressures this season.”
Franklin-Myers started 31 out of a possible 34 regular-season games for the Broncos the last 2 seasons with 14.5 sacks, 14 TFL and a whopping 33 QB hits.
Broncos Lose ‘Ultra Rare’ $63 Million Free Agent to AFC Team