Just about nothing worked for the Denver Broncos in their Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and while it was a collectively awful effort, it also did show where the team is weakest the most. To the surprise of no one, the linebacking group looked overwhelmed.
Alex Singleton missed countless tackles, and really just showed more of the (unfortunate) same. Ever since his return from a torn ACL he suffered during the 2024 NFL Season, the veteran has been borderline unplayable in many respects.
It's flat-out odd and ridiculous that the Broncos didn't do more to fix this position in the offseason, but they do have a former player trending in the wrong direction on his new team, and there might not be any harm in 'rescuing' him back on the Broncos. How badly does the team want to upgrade, and would Tennessee Titans' linebacker Cody Barton still be an upgrade?
The Denver Broncos need to see if Tennessee is already willing to part with Cody Barton
Titans' expert Justin Melo touched on Barton being a Week 1 'loser' for the team, but Barton's familiarity with the Broncos and solid play for the team should prompt Denver to see if he's already available:
"Cody Barton, LB
Veteran Titans linebacker was grossly outplayed by rookie Anthony Hill Jr., who notched a team-high 16 tackles. Remember that Hill was only starting because Cedric Gray failed to clear concussion protocol in time for Week 1. Coach Saleh recently confirmed that Gray has been cleared for Week 2.
The Titans should absolutely move forward with a pairing of Gray and Hill at linebacker. Pro Football Focus credited Barton with just two takedowns and one missed tackle. The aging Barton has looked a step slow since the preseason, and he's definitely in danger of losing his starting gig to Hill." - Justin Melo
The Titans are honestly living the Broncos' dream, as the Titans are getting immediate returns from their rookie linebacker, Anthony Hill Jr. Tennessee also has Cedric Gray, another young, ascending player at the position.
With how Barton apparently looked in Week 1, the Titans may feel comfortable moving forward with the young duo of Hill and Gray. This could put the veteran Barton on the ropes and not in a clear-cut starting lineup. Titans' head coach Robert Saleh typically likes to employ insanely athletic linebackers, and that simply isn't who Barton is or has been in his career.
Furthermore, he's on a contract that pays him $7 million per year. That's starter money, so, logically, the Titans wouldn't be making a bad move in trading Barton to a team like the Broncos, where he'd actually start. Financially, there are zero issues from Tennessee or Denver's side that would make a potential deal not, and while it's not even Week 2, there isn't a clear path for this linebacker room to get better, as it's been an issue since the start of 2025, which was, funnily enough, the year after Barton left and when Singleton returned from his knee injury.
In 2024 for the Broncos, Barton finished with two interceptions, five passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 1.5 sacks, and 106 total tackles. He allowed a 98.2 passer rating when in coverage that year, according to Pro Football Reference.
What's interesting is that he only allowed a 67.1 passer rating in coverage last year, so something changed for the better. While the veteran isn't a top option and never has been, he'd be a floor-raising presence if nothing else, should know the defense, and could likely be acquired for cheap.
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