Cody Barton’s run as a steady NFL starter may be running into another hard turn in Tennessee.
The former Seattle Seahawks linebacker has already bounced around the league since leaving the Pacific Northwest, and now he could be squeezed out again after the Titans used a second-round pick on Anthony Hill Jr. in the 2026 NGL Draft. If Hill has a strong training camp, Tennessee’s inside linebacker picture could shift quickly, with Hill and Cedric Gray expected to be the two starters and Barton pushed to the bench.
That would be a sharp change for a player who did enough in 2025 to stay in the mix. Barton started all 17 games for Tennessee, held up well in pass coverage, and continued to avoid a lot of missed tackles. But he also didn’t separate himself as anything close to elite, which is why the Titans appear willing to move on if a younger option proves ready.
Releasing him is also on the table, even if it would not create much immediate relief in 2026. The bigger savings would come later, with about $7 million in future money available if Tennessee moves on.
Still, the cap math does not seem to be the main issue. The Titans have a rookie quarterback, a younger roster, and enough cap room.
What they need most are players who fit Robert Saleh’s defense, and the source points out Barton may not be that kind of fit.
That part makes the situation a little ironic from Seattle’s perspective. Barton may actually fit Mike Macdonald’s system better than he did under Pete Carroll, because Macdonald wants an off-ball linebacker who can cover and tackle cleanly. Barton checks those boxes.
But a return to Seattle would not solve his problem if Tennessee lets him go. The Seahawks already have Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, and Tyrice Knight ahead of him on the inside linebacker depth chart, leaving Barton with little realistic path back into the rotation there.
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