One of the biggest questions for the Tennessee Titans heading into training camp is at linebacker. While one of the starters is clear in free-agent addition Cody Barton, who lines up next to him, remains a mystery at this point. 

Barton was one of the first players general manager Mike Borgonzi added during the offseason as he began his overhaul of the linebacker unit, and is counting on him to not only lead the defense, but to mentor the young linebackers around him. Barton is coming off a solid season in Denver and should be an upgrade over what the Titans had in 2024. 

Barton made his presence known during offseason activities and minicamp. Not only did he make an impact on his teammates, but he also caught the eye of many analysts who were observing the activities. One of those, Turron Davenport of ESPN, believes that Barton will be one of the biggest surprises for the Titans heading into 2025. 

LB Cody Barton

Barton showed he could be the much-needed savvy veteran for the Titans’ inside linebacker group, which struggled a bit in coverage and found themselves out of position, leading to some long runs by opposing backs.

The veteran free agent addition has a vocal presence on the field and can be heard barking commands before almost every snap. Barton intercepted No.1 pick Cameron Ward twice. Despite being new to the team, Barton has already become a mentor to the young inside backers, especially second-year linebacker James Williams, who he offered pointers to when the two weren’t on the field together. — Turron Davenport

Barton comes to the Titans after one of the best seasons of his career, where he notched 1,053 defensive snaps (91%), turning them into 106 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble return for a touchdown, and five passes defensed. Athletic and versatile, he has risen from a special-teams standout early in his career with the Seattle Seahawks to an every-down linebacker in Denver. 

The Titans will be the fourth team for Barton, who has spent time with the Seahawks, Washington Commanders, and Broncos during his career. Now, the Titans are relying on the 28-year-old’s experience to elevate their defense to the next level, following struggles with injuries and performance in 2024.

Though it’s still early, it appears that Barton is up for the task.Â