Robert Saleh is reforming his Jets band. After Jermaine Johnson arrived via trade, John Franklin-Myers is coming over in free agency. The high-level FA agreed to a three-year, $63MM Titans deal, per insider Jordan Schultz.
A two-year Broncos starter, Franklin-Myers was a key piece under Saleh with the Jets. With D-line coach Aaron Whitecotton coming to Nashville as well, the Titans appeared to be the most logical suitor for Franklin-Myers (as Nikhil Mehta’s Offseason Outlook detailed). Franklin-Myers, 29, will see $42MM guaranteed on this deal — a massive raise from his Denver terms.
Widely expected to leave the Broncos, who had not made an extension offer during a period where several other front-seven cogs were paid, Franklin-Myers hit free agency at an ideal time. Despite heading into an age-30 season, the high-end role player looked to be by far this market’s top interior D-line option. PFR ranked Franklin-Myers sixth in this year’s FA class — largely because of its lack of DT options and a draft not teeming with them, either — and the $21MM-per-year number nearly triples his Broncos AAV.
The Bengals, Colts and 49ers also pursued Franklin-Myers, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Traded to the Broncos as a salary-dump move in the 2024 draft, Franklin-Myers agreed to a two-year, $15MM deal — a better offer than the Jets made as they aimed for a sizable pay cut. Franklin-Myers had been tied to a four-year, $55MM Jets extension, but as Haason Reddick arrived via trade, Joe Douglas sent him to Denver. That became a boon for the Broncos’ defense, and it turned into a mutually beneficial relationship.
Two top-three Broncos defenses deployed Franklin-Myers as a 3-4 defensive end starter. He racked up 14.5 sacks during his two-season Broncos stay. But Denver had agreed to extensions with Zach Allen, Malcom Roach, Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper during Franklin-Myers’ tenure. The team also re-signed DT D.J. Jones just before last year’s free agency. Franklin-Myers did not expect an extension, and he will benefit from hitting the market in a down year for the position.
Initially claimed off waivers from the Rams during Adam Gase’s HC tenure, Franklin-Myers displayed inside-outside versatility under Saleh. He recorded 11 sacks from 2021-22, teaming with Quinnen Williams up front New York. Saleh’s second Jets defense improved from 32nd to fourth, and Franklin-Myers’ 2022 showing was a key reason for that leap. Two years after the draft-weekend trade, Franklin-Myers will join his former coaches on a monster fourth contract.
JFM with Big Jeff gonna be tooooough.
Big Jeff was traded to the Jets before free agency.
Wrong giant. Big Jeff stayed. Big T’Vondre was traded to the Jets.
Ah shoot you’re right. Don’t know why I got them confused. Disregard.
There are weirder mixups than two gigantic defensive tackles who played right next to each other for two years.
Unless T’Vondre Sweat was known as “Big Jeff” at one time, I’m confused. The trade was for Johnson for Sweat.
Yeah that was my bad. Brain fart.
Welp, looks like they just replaced Simmons.
I’d still rather have Simmons in a head to head matchup but JFM is the perfect fit for Saleh’s defense and has thrived in it in the past.
No reason those two can’t co-exist. Saleh liked to play JFM on the outside on early downs, then move him inside on passing downs when they were together with the Jets.
Sweat I mean, not Simmons.
Yeah that was just me getting the two confused for a second there.
I agree. They’ll make a perfect tandem.
Thinking a bit more about this, neither of these guys is really someone who is going to have to come off the field in the passing game. They’re both totally capable of playing on the outside in either base or nickel situations.
Armstead used to play the edge-setting DE spot then slide inside to tackle in pass rush situations. Probably not as critical to have someone like that in Nashville, but could also mean they don’t need a run-stuffing end with much pass rush ability since both JFM and Big Jeff generate plenty of push.
Right now the DEs are Femi Oladejo and Jermaine Johnson. Don’t know if either of those guys really count as run stuffers. Could mean they mix and match a lot on the line, moving either Jeff or JFM to End at times.