The Jets have a chance to patch one of their biggest roster questions before training camp gets rolling, and the timing may matter. New York still has work to do at linebacker, and former head coach Robert Saleh could be the link that helps them get it done.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently laid out one trade each team should think about, and for Tennessee, he pointed to linebacker Cody Barton. That name should catch the Jets’ attention. With Saleh connection or not, this is the kind of move that fits a clear need in New York.
The Jets and Titans have already done business. Last season, New York landed cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. from Tennessee for a sixth-round pick.
Earlier this offseason, the Jets sent edge Jermaine Johnson II to the Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat. That kind of recent trade history matters, and it makes another deal easier to picture.
New York is set to open the season with Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood as its starting linebackers, but there are real concerns behind them. Sherwood followed his extension with an underwhelming 2025 season, while Davis, at 37, is still holding up impressively but can only defy time for so long. If the Jets need a backup, Kiko Mauigoa would be next in line, and that’s not exactly a comforting answer.
Barton would give them a much sturdier option. He’s been around the league for seven seasons now, with stops in Seattle, Washington, Denver and Tennessee. In 17 starts for the Titans last year, he finished with 81 total tackles, four TFLs and three interceptions.
His résumé is deeper than one season, too. Barton has appeared in 112 career games and made 60 starts.
And with Tennessee drafting linebacker Anthony Hill in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft, the Titans may have a clearer path at the position. Saleh used a top pick on Hill in his first draft, a sign of how highly he’s regarded in that building, and he could slide right in alongside Cedric Gray.
That makes Barton a possible odd man out, and the Jets should be ready to strike. The price shouldn’t be steep - likely no more than a late Day three pick - and general manager Darren Mougey has already shown a willingness to use those kinds of selections to bring in veterans.
Barton does have two years left on his contract, but if Tennessee decides the fit isn’t right, a release would save $3.3 million, according to Spotrac. With the Titans on New York’s Week 1 schedule, the Jets have every reason to make the call now and see what it would take to bring Barton in. It’s the kind of move that would clean up a glaring hole before the 2026 season gets underway.
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