The Titans have agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with LB Cody Barton, NFL Network reports. That should install the former Bronco as the starter next to LB Kenneth Murray, unless Tennessee decides to dump him ahead of the second year on his contract.
Perhaps the headline's a bit harsh here. To be fair, it's entirely possible that Barton doesn't finish this contract in Tennessee.
If you look just at his numbers, the deal might seem to make sense. Barton has logged 38 starts over the past three seasons, topping 105 tackles each of those years and supplying 5 INTs amid 12 passes defensed.
But each of those three seasons also found his employing team letting him walk.
Seattle did so after the first year it elevated Barton to a starting role, following Bobby Wagner's departure. Barton played every snap of his 13 healthy games with Washington in 2023, but then the Commanders let him walk and signed two big-money LBs in free agency.
Last year found Barton opening as a part-timer and then taking on full-time duty after LB Alex Singleton tore an ACL. Barton did earn career-best Pro Football Focus grades for total defense, run defense, and tackling last year. But among 100 LBs who played at least 200 snaps, Barton ranked just 52nd in overall grade and 71st in coverage grade.
Barton's a limited talent. But he's clearly being paid for full-time duty. And there's a chance the Titans dump Murray to save nearly $7.5 million in cap space rather than pay him to stay mediocre.
Ultimately, this looks like a bad signing for the Titans but should produce solid-to-good fantasy numbers for Barton.
Consider him a high-LB3 to mid-LB2 option for 2025 IDP drafts.
We'll have to see about Singleton's knee recovery back in Denver and what else the Broncos add at the position.
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