Robert Saleh shared some juicy draft intel about a former employer while preparing the Tennessee Titans for a Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants. The Titans head coach will look for his defense to contain Cam Skattebo, who has played a heavy role in New York's offense to start the 2026 season. Saleh praised the hard-nosed running back to reporters on Wednesday.
"He's cool, man," Saleh said, per Fox Sports. He's like the old-school, 2010 Madden hit stick, lower your shoulder, run people over. Lots of energy." Saleh isn't Skattebo's only fan outside the Giants organization.
The former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator claimed that head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to select him out of Arizona State last year. "We were actually about to draft him in San Francisco," Saleh said of the 49ers. "Kyle loved him, and he ended up getting taken right before we were picking." The Giants took Skattebo at pick No. 105 following a 2,316-yard, 24-touchdown season with the Sun Devils.
He would have needed to last eight more selections before the 49ers could snag him. San Francisco instead used the 113th pick on defensive tackle CJ West, who has started the first two games of the 2026 season after recording 21 tackles and a sack as a rookie. Skattebo gained 617 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games before suffering a gruesome season-ending ankle injury.
Pairing Skattebo with Christian McCaffrey would have created an intriguing backfield duo in San Francisco. The 49ers instead drafted Jordan James in the fifth round, but he didn't tally a single touch last season. San Francisco jumped on running back a bit earlier this year, taking Kaelon Black at pick No. 90.
The recent Indiana Hoosiers national champion has notched 90 rushing yards with more carries (21) than McCaffrey (20) in two double-digit victories to start his career. Saleh will hope the 49ers don't regret missing Skattebo after he plays the Titans this Sunday.
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