The Titans’ linebacker picture is getting harder to ignore, and Cedric Gray isn’t the only reason why.
Gray is still the young name drawing the most attention, especially with new head coach Robert Saleh’s reputation for developing linebackers. But the bigger question in Tennessee is who lines up next to him, and that battle is starting to tilt toward the younger options.
Right now, 29-year-old Cody Barton is projected to hold the other starting job. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley recently cited consistency as the reason Barton has been ahead of the rest of the group.
On paper, that makes sense. On the field, though, Barton has looked painfully slow throughout the preseason.
He appears to know exactly where he is supposed to be, but he often arrives late, and that can hurt a defense just as much as being out of position.
That opens the door for James Williams, who has made his presence felt with a physical, vocal style. Williams nearly beat out Gray for a starting job in training camp last season, and his length plus his background as a safety make him a natural fit to keep pushing for snaps. He still needs more experience after making the switch to full-time linebacker, but the traits are there.
The most buzz, though, belongs to rookie Anthony Hill. The second-round pick looked like the kind of playmaker Tennessee has been missing when the Titans faced the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
That contrast showed up quickly. Against the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the preseason, Barton whiffed on a sack that helped extend a drive, and in another sequence he was a step slow getting into a passing lane, allowing the throw to be completed.
Hill, in the same type of situation against Seattle, finished the play. When he was matched up in coverage against Jalen Milroe, he read the quarterback and jumped the route for an interception.
The Titans can go with subpackages or hand the job to one of the younger linebackers outright, but the case for a youth movement is getting stronger. Barton may be steady, mature, and well liked in the locker room, but the young players are offering something different: a real chance to make the kind of game-changing play Tennessee needs.
In Other News...
Titans Just Got An Unexpected WR Decision To Make
The Browns decision to move on from Cedric Tillman has suddenly put a young receiver with some untapped intrigue on the market, and that has to be at least a passing consideration for the Titans. Tennessee has been looking for answers in its wideout room, and Tillman fits the kind of profile teams often circle this time of year: a recent draft pick, still looking to establish himself, with enough playmaking flashes to make a front office think twice before letting him get away.
Tillman was a third-round pick in 2022 and had returned to camp after an injury, but Cleveland still chose to release him rather than keep him in the mix. For Tennessee, the question is whether there is enough upside there to justify a look, especially with a roster spot and a potential depth need in play. No move has been reported yet, but it is the sort of decision the Titans could revisit quickly if they want to add another receiver with some developmental appeal. [Read more 🡒]
Titans-Bears Just Put Carnell Tates Family Loyalty In The Spotlight
The Titans preseason finale against the Bears brings a little extra family intrigue to a game that already has some storyline juice for Tennessee. Rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate may see only limited action, but he is still expected to be a key target for quarterback Cam Ward as the Titans continue sorting out their passing game before the regular season arrives.
Tate also comes into the matchup with a personal twist, since he and his father have long been Bears fans. Even with his son now wearing Titans colors, Tates father said he will still be backing Chicago in the preseason meeting, which adds a small but noticeable layer of split loyalties to an otherwise routine August game. [Read more 🡒]
Two Titans Bubble Players Could Force Tough Final Roster Calls
The Titans wrapped up training camp with a joint practice against the Bears, and that means the roster-sorting part of August is getting serious. With the final preseason game still to come, a few of the camps better under-the-radar performers are suddenly forcing their way into the conversation, especially players who have made the most of every rep and every chance to show value beyond their listed position.
Restrepo and Hallett have both put together encouraging stretches in practice and preseason action, giving Tennessee something to think about as the cuts get closer. For players on the bubble, the final exhibition game can matter as much for special teams as it does for offense or defense, and that extra layer could end up deciding which names stick around when the Titans make their toughest calls. [Read more 🡒]