The 49ers reportedly just missed out on one of the top defensive linemen on the NFL free-agent market.

Defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers has agreed to sign a three-year, $63 million contract with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday, citing sources.

Pelissero also reported that San Francisco negotiated with the 29-year-old veteran but lost to Tennessee, which had Franklin-Myers as its biggest free-agent target.

John Franklin-Myers gets $42 million guaranteed from the Titans, who battled it out with the 49ers when the negotiating window opened and landed their top target. https://t.co/IsZJQqJ7LO

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026

Franklin-Myers is set to join a Titans organization that hired former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as its new head coach and a front four that already has 2025 All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons leading the charge.

Despite being cut by the Los Angeles Rams after his rookie year in 2018, Franklin-Myers has established himself as one of the most reliable defensive linemen in the NFL.

Franklin-Myers spent four years with the New York Jets from 2020 to 2023, where he recorded 125 combined tackles, 17.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 61 quarterback hits and one forced fumble in 65 games.

The former fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft then spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, in which Franklin-Myers totaled 65 combined tackles, 14.5 sacks, 33 quarterback hits and 14 tackles for loss in 33 games.

San Francisco still is looking to add depth to its defensive line that will feature one-time Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and edge rusher Mykel Williams, who both are set to return from ACL injuries, and second-year players Alfred Collins and CJ West.

For a team that had the league-worst 20 total sacks during the 2025 NFL regular season, a player such as Franklin-Myers certainly could have added a much-needed boost.

But with plenty of other available free agents on the market, the 49ers still have a lot of time and opportunity to make some moves to address one of their positional needs going into the offseason.

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