The Dallas Cowboys could be a match for the Tennessee Titans if the trade market starts moving before the Nov. 10 deadline.
That idea comes from The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, who recently listed 50 players he thinks could surface in trade talks. Among them was Titans linebacker Cody Barton, whom Popper identified as a fit for Dallas.
“Barton is in the second year of a three-year deal he signed with the Titans in 2025. He does not have any guaranteed money after this year, and the Titans would take on only a $1.72 million dead-money charge in 2027 if they traded him before the deadline,” he said.
“Barton is not a fast linebacker from sideline to sideline. But he is an instinctive coverage player.”
Tennessee’s season has gone sideways again, and that kind of slide usually leads to teams unloading anything that isn’t locked down. Barton could be one of those pieces. He’s 30 years old, doesn’t appear to be part of the long-term picture in Nashville and is also entering the final year of his contract in 2027, which gives the Titans even more reason to consider moving him now instead of risking losing him for nothing later.
For Dallas, the attraction is pretty straightforward: linebacker depth has been tested hard. The Cowboys can survive if DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters and Jaishawn Barham stay on the field, but that’s been a major if through six games. Overshown has already missed five games with injury, and Winters is now dealing with an Achilles issue that is expected to keep him out at least one game.
If that injury luck keeps going the wrong way, Dallas could look for a smaller deal to shore up the position. A Barton move would fit that bill.
He’s not a game-changing defender, but he is a usable starting linebacker who could help if the Cowboys need another body in that room. Pro Football Focus has Barton graded at 62.6 overall, with marks of 60.0 in run defense, 56.4 in tackling, 66.9 in pass-rush and 61.7 in coverage.
The price would likely be modest, too. Barton probably wouldn’t cost more than a fifth-round pick.
Linebacker is not the biggest issue on Dallas’ board with a little over two weeks left before the deadline, but the situation can shift fast in the NFL. That’s especially true for the Cowboys at linebacker, where injuries have already turned a thin area into one worth watching.
In Other News...
Cowboys Facing An Awkward Reality Ahead Of Eagles Showdown
The Cowboys head into Monday night with the kind of point spread that invites debate, and Skip Bayless was quick to voice his disbelief that Dallas is laying 4.5 points against the Eagles. It is an unusual spot for a team that has spent much of the season battling inconsistency on both sides of the ball, with offensive issues and defensive lapses making it hard to know which version of the Cowboys will show up from week to week.
Philadelphia adds another layer of awkwardness to the setup, because the Eagles have kept winning even when Jalen Hurts has not been available. That leaves Dallas facing a division opponent that has found ways to survive adversity while the Cowboys are still trying to steady their own form, which is why the betting line feels less like a prediction and more like a challenge to explain. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Firestorm Puts Schottenheimers Leadership In The Spotlight
Brian Schottenheimers public critique of George Pickens landed with extra weight because it broke from the Cowboys coachs usual approach. Schottenheimer has generally been protective of Pickens, so calling out the receivers run-blocking effort immediately turned a routine in-season adjustment into a much bigger conversation inside and outside the building.
Former NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco wasted little time using the moment to question Schottenheimers leadership, framing the comments as a way to shift attention away from Dallas defensive problems. Pickens, for his part, kept the response measured and stressed the need for the whole team to improve, but the exchange has only sharpened the spotlight on how Schottenheimer is handling one of the leagues most scrutinized rosters. [Read more 🡒]
Troy Aikman Just Put Cowboys Receivers On Blast At Worst Time
The Cowboys recent offensive slide has made every missed detail look bigger, and Troy Aikman added to the noise with a blunt critique of the receiver play coming out of Dallas. The former quarterback said the group has not been running crisp routes, a concern that lands at a rough moment for an offense that has scored fewer points in its last two games than it had in earlier outings.
Aikman stopped short of naming the player he was talking about, but the comment was sharp enough to spark immediate speculation around the roster. George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy have all been mentioned as possible candidates, though the film and the context have not pointed to a confirmed answer yet. [Read more 🡒]