As we have seen early on in this Dallas Cowboys offseason, sometimes very good players can become trade bait in a sort amount of time, especially when there is a scheme change afoot. That was the case for star defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa in Dallas, as the Cowboys sent off one of the more popular players in the locker room to San Francisco for a third-round pick because the defense is transitioning to a 3-4 base that does not really fit Odighizuwa’s size and skillset.
As the Cowboys continue to try to find answers at the middle linebacker position, it would be wise for them to seek out other teams where the defense is being overhauled–which means players can be had at a good value. Few would argue that the 49ers got a very good deal by sending a late third for a guy of Odighizuwa’s caliber.
One team that figures to have their own defensive rebuild this offseason is the Titans, who have hired new coach Robert Saleh, a long-respected defensive coordinator who had a rocky tenure as the Jets’ head coach. In Saleh’s system, one player who could potentially get lost is linebacker Cody Barton–and the Cowboys are in position to scoop him up on value trade.
Cowboys an ‘Ideal Fit’ for Cody Barton
That’s the view from Fox Sports’ Ben Arthur, who writes that the Cowboys biggest need remains linebacker, which has been obvious since about 2023.
Notes Arthur: “The Cowboys have prioritized adding veteran starters to what was a bad defense last season, trading for edge rusher Rashan Gary and signing safety Jalen Thompson in free agency. An experienced MIKE linebacker who’s comfortable with green dot responsibilities would further support first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker. ”
He then goes on to name Cody Barton as the ideal experienced MIKE linebacker to fill in for the Cowboys.
Cowboys Have Been Burned by Veteran LBs
Barton, it should be pointed out, is on a three-year, $21 million contract. That’s not out of the Cowboys’ range at all–they offered more for linebackers like Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean in free agency two weeks ago, but were beaten out by the Raiders.
Now, Barton is not Lee Roy Jordan by any stretch. He did get the big contract from the Titans a year ago, but the Titans marked his fourth team in the past four years. If he gets traded, he wil have changed addresses five straight offseasons.
That sounds suspiciously like Eric Kendricks, Kenneth Murray, Logan Wilson and the rest of the downtrodden linebackers the Cowboys have trotted out in recent year. Pro Football Focus is not really a Barton fan, either–linebackers are hard to size up, but his 52.5 grade was 68th out of 88 at his position last year.
GettyKenneth Murray Jr. #59 of the Dallas Cowboys
Cody Barton Plus a Draft Pick at LB?
But he is a veteran starter, one of a few the Cowboys could potentially try to find via trade. There were rumors about an interest in the Steelers‘ Patrick Queen, and Forth Worth Star-Telegram reporter Nick Harris added Jordyn Brooks of the Dolphins and Azeez Al-Shaair of the Texans as trade candidates.
Those would probably require premium pick packages. Barton could like be had for, perhaps, two of the Cowboys’ three fifth-round picks.
And while the team’s recent failures at linebacker ring loud, it’s a position they will address in the draft, too, meaning there should be a long-term option to go alongside someone like Barton. That, at least, is the hope.
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