The Broncos’ inside linebacker room has been a problem for a while, and this season hasn’t done anything to quiet that conversation. Denver had a chance to help itself in the spring, with plenty of free-agent options and a deep 2026 NFL Draft class looming, but the move they made was to bring back Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad on two- and three-year deals.
That hasn’t solved much. Singleton has been easy to attack in coverage early this season, and he’s no longer creating the kind of negative plays in the backfield that once gave the defense a jolt.
At some point, Denver is likely to look for help before the trade deadline. The market may not be loaded with difference-makers, but there is at least one familiar name who could make sense as a short-term fix: Cody Barton.
Barton is now with the Tennessee Titans, where he signed for 2025 and is in the second year of a three-year deal. Tennessee’s linebacker group has looked encouraging, and that’s partly because the Titans used the 60th overall pick in this year’s draft on Anthony Hill Jr. The rookie has already made a real impact, sitting third in the NFL in tackles and earning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September.
Hill is only 21, and he’s more than 10 years younger than Singleton. The timing is notable, too: Tennessee grabbed Hill two picks before Denver’s original slot at the end of the second round.
Then at No. 61, the Los Angeles Rams took tight end Max Klare out of Ohio State, another player Denver may have been considering. By No. 62, the Broncos traded back into the top of the third round, and it’s fair to think they were eyeing one of those two names.
When both were gone, a trade down made sense.
Denver can’t undo that draft night decision, but it can still try to patch the hole now. The Titans are 0-3, and if that record keeps going the wrong way, they could eventually become sellers.
Barton may also not be a perfect fit for Robert Saleh’s defense, which tends to lean toward more athletic linebackers. Barton isn’t a statue, but he doesn’t fit that mold cleanly.
For the Broncos, though, the appeal is straightforward. Barton spent the 2024 season in Denver and was productive: two interceptions, five passes defended, 106 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits. He also allowed a 98.2 passer rating in coverage that year, according to Pro Football Reference, but in 20 games for Tennessee, that number has dropped to 68.3.
It may be too late for Denver to truly overhaul the position group. They missed that window.
But Barton would at least raise the floor, and that alone would be a step in the right direction. In a sense, he’d be the consolation prize from Tennessee after the Titans landed the draft gem the Broncos may have wanted all along.
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Broncos Defense Gave Fans A Reason To Feel Better Fast
After a rough-looking start to the season, Denvers defense gave the home crowd something to hang onto against the Chargers. Nik Bonitto was everywhere off the edge, D.J. Jones delivered a key strip sack, and Justin Strnad led the Broncos with eight tackles as the unit set the tone early and kept pressure on Los Angeles throughout the afternoon.
Brandon Jones also showed up in a big way, first jumping on the loose ball and later coming up with an interception to help steady Denver when the game tightened. With the defense carrying much of the load and Evan Engram leading the offense with four catches for 55 yards, the Broncos suddenly had a much better feeling about where this team could be headed. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Beck Could Change The Cardinals Conversation Faster Than Expected
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For the Broncos, it is the kind of development worth watching from afar because every young quarterback situation around the league can ripple into the wider evaluation of the position. Trevor Lawrence is also adding to that picture by playing well in 2026 and drawing more market interest in his trading cards, a reminder that quarterback performance can move quickly from on-field judgment to broader buzz. Beck may not be the headline yet, but with the Cardinals struggling, his path could open before anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get A Nostalgia-Fueled Spotlight With Extra Thursday Night Stakes
Thursday nights game in Seattle will carry a little extra nostalgia, with both teams reaching into the past for their Week 6 spotlight on Amazon Prime Video. The Seahawks are going with their fan-favorite throwback look for the eighth time since 2023, while the Broncos will pair their orange jerseys with a classic helmet style in a prime-time setting that should feel a little bigger than a normal divisional-week spot on the schedule.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will handle the broadcast, with Brad Rogers working as referee, so the presentation will have the full national-stage feel to match the uniforms. For Denver, the throwback look has already become a familiar one since it was brought back in 2024, and the only question now is whether the Broncos can make the clothes fit the occasion again. [Read more 🡒]