The Tennessee Titans made several aggressive moves during the 2026 NFL Draft, including a notable trade on day two. After selecting wide receiver Carnell Tate and EDGE Keldric Faulk in the first round, many expected the Titans to remain quiet. Instead, they traded up in the second round for Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., adding another impact defender to the rookie class.
Hill Jr. joins one of the Titans' deepest position groups, a linebacker room loaded with talent and competition. While many expected him to begin the season as the team's third linebacker, he has already made a strong impression and appears to be pushing former team captain Cody Barton for a starting role.
Barton is one of the Titans' better linebackers in pass coverage, but he has been less effective against the run. That is where Cedric Gray excelled in 2025, quickly establishing himself as a reliable defender and finishing second in solo tackles in the NFL. However, Gray has also shared his struggles in pass coverage, making the two linebackers complementary players whose strengths help offset each other's weaknesses.
Anthony Hill Jr. pushing Cody Barton for Titans starting job
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This is where Hill Jr. makes a strong case to earn a starting role for the Titans. He has continued to impress throughout training camp and is ready for the challenge. Hill Jr. has previous experience serving as a green-dot linebacker, meaning he has already shown he can handle the communication and responsibilities that Barton filled last season. That experience should make his transition into the defense much smoother.
Hill Jr. is also a major asset in pass coverage. While he may not match Barton's three interceptions from last season, he has the athleticism and instincts to limit production from tight ends and receivers working the middle of the field. Combined with his ability against the run, Hill Jr. has the skill set to develop into a complete three-down linebacker for the Titans.
Hill Jr. is an outstanding run defender, which is one of the reasons Texas occasionally lined him up as an outside linebacker. He is a tackler who does an excellent job of limiting yards after contact and preventing opposing running backs from turning short gains into explosive plays.
Based on what has been shown so far, the Titans' best option at linebacker appears to be Gray alongside Hill Jr., with Hill Jr. wearing the green dot in 2026. That pairing would give the Titans a more balanced combination of athleticism, run defense, and coverage ability.
If the Titans instead choose Barton as the other starter, it would raise legitimate questions about the decision-making early in Robert Saleh's first season as the Titans' head coach. Given Hill Jr.'s skill set and early performances, he has made a compelling case to earn the role.
