Last year, the Tennessee Titans hired GM Mike Borgonzi, and one of his first moves was trading veteran linebacker Kenneth Murray (and a seventh-round pick) to the Dallas Cowboys for a sixth-round pick.
A recent article for ESPN suggests that the Titans could do that again this year, but with a much more coveted player in Cody Barton.
"Second-round linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has that sort of speed, but critically, he was a multiyear signal-caller at the heart of the Texas defense. He seems better suited to slide into Barton's shoes at middle linebacker than Cedric Gray's spot at weakside linebacker, but I would wager both jobs are up for grabs in different combinations as Saleh explores the best version of his roster in 2026. If Barton is indeed shelved for Hill, expect trade calls."
ESPN: Titans could trade LB Cody Barton after drafting Anthony Hill Jr.
Agree to disagree on the idea that Cedric Gray's spot is up for grabs, but outside of that, the analysis makes a lot of sense here. Robert Saleh and Mike Borgonzi have talked about Hill's ability to wear the green dot and call the defense, and Gray certainly seems like he could do it if Hill can't.
If experience isn't a factor, then it is hard to argue that the fastest and most violent version of this defense includes Barton as one of the starting linebackers. The Titans won't cut him because a move like that doesn't open up any cap space for them, but trading him could certainly be on the table, and this isn't the first time there have been rumors circling that teams like Barton as a veteran option.
Durable linebackers are hard to find in the NFL, and Cody Barton has racked up nearly 2,200 snaps over the last two years.
While a move probably won't happen soon, interest could pick up once training camp starts. The Titans are going to get a much better look at the linebackers they have, and they will get a better grasp on how the top will shake out and if they have the depth behind them to safely trade off someone like Barton.
At the same time, injuries across the league will leave some teams more desperate for linebacker help than they believed they would be in the summer, and that will open up even more opportunities for trades.
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