NFL teams have a 90-man roster to evaluate through training camp and preseason games, but even after the preseason ends, some of the best moves made towards building a final 53-man roster are picking up the scraps from other teams. Once teams make a ton of roster cuts to get down to the 53-player limit, other teams can then sift through the waiver wire to find players they might like a bit more than what they already have.
The Denver Broncos were unable to grab one of the top inside linebacker prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft and while there is a strong general feeling that the team may have found terrific value with "Mr. Irrelevant" selection Red Murdock, head coach Sean Payton would likely prefer a more proven option on the roster.
The Broncos will open the season with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad at the two inside linebacker spots. After making the decision to release Dre Greenlaw this offseason, the team is left with just Murdock, Karene Reid, Jordan Turner, Levelle Bailey and undrafted free agent Taurean York at that position.
There was talk of moving Jonah Elliss to the inside and the Broncos may be so confident in what he'll do there that they feel there are no major concerns. But none of these players are proven.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report has selected one potential veteran player who could be cut before the 2026 season kicks off and when scanning the roster of the Tennessee Titans, he identified Cody Barton. Should that come to fruition, Barton's is a name that should intrigue the Broncos' front office.
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"Despite Cody Barton's solid first year with the Tennessee Titans, logging 81 tackles (four for loss), 11 pass breakups and three interceptions, he may not be a fit within defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh's system.
Saleh will call plays in Tennessee, and he usually fields athletic linebackers in the middle of his defenses (see Fred Warner in San Francisco and C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams with the New York Jets). The Titans drafted Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round, and he could push Barton for the starting spot alongside Cedric Gray.
Keep in mind that Barton will be 30 in November", wrote Moton.
All of these are valid points, particularly with the Titans getting a new coaching staff.
Barton played on a one-year contract in Denver in 2024 before leaving for a new deal with the Titans ahead of the 2025 season. But he played well for the Broncos in the starting role alongside Singleton. He registered 106 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Broncos that season.
The Broncos handed a big contract to Greenlaw rather than bringing back Barton, but if the Titans were to also move on from him, it would make plenty of sense to put him back in Vance Joseph's defense, particularly if suitable options aren't identified this summer.
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Inside linebacker is arguably the Broncos' biggest positional weakness and the team is going to need solid insurance behind Singleton and Strnad.
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