Cody Barton might have exceeded expectations with the Seattle Seahawks. The third-round pick in 2019 might not have been truly expected to develop into a starter at inside linebacker because the team still had Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright at the time. Barton would be quality depth.
Instead, by his fourth season, Barton was thrust into starting most games, and he was solid. He racked up tackles and was pretty good in pass coverage. He wasn't re-signed, however, and in the three years since he left the Pacific Northwest, he's bounced around the league a bit.
He is currently with the Tennessee Titans. While he is entering his second season with the team, the Titans are his third team overall since 2023. This implies that league teams see Barton as a serviceable player, one who could even start, but not a long-term solution for them.
Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton might be struggling with the Tennessee Titans
In 2025 with Tennessee, he started all 17 games, was excellent in pass coverage, and once again didn't whiff on many tackle attempts. The issue is that he was in no way elite. He is a starter who could be easily replaced, and the Titans might be on the verge of doing just that.
Barton's team took Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round of the 2026 NGL Draft, and with a solid training camp, he will be one of the two inside linebacker starters, and Barton will sit on the bench. The other starter is expected to be Cedric Gray, a fourth-round choice in 2024.
While it's less likely to happen but still an option for Tennessee; they could simply release Barton if he gets beaten out as a starter. The Titans wouldn't save that much money by doing so in 2026, though in future money, waiving Barton would save about $7 million. The money isn't the huge issue, however.
The Titans have a rookie quarterback, a youngish roster, and plenty of money in cap space. What the team needs more is players who are great fits for new Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh's defense. That isn't Barton. He is basically taking up a roster spot for a player who could be more productive in the way Saleh needs.
The odd part, as far as the Seattle Seahawks are concerned, is that Cody Barton might be a better fit in Mike Macdonald's system than Barton was when Pete Carroll was coaching the team. Macdonald's scheme requires an off-ball linebacker who can cover well and not miss tackles. That's Barton.
But if the Titans were to give up on the linebacker, he would have no spot in Seattle. The Seahawks have Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, and Tyrice Knight atop their inside linebacker depth chart. Barton would be unlikely to crack that.
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