Cody

Barton

In his lone season with the Commanders, Barton totaled 121 tackles and one interception in 13 games but earned a PFF defensive grade of 53.9. While Barton has compiled 100-plus tackles in each of his last two seasons, the veteran linebacker hasn’t proven to be a high-impact player and has struggled at times in coverage and against the run. Barton could slot in as a starter when needed, but he probably shouldn’t be counted on to lead a defense.

A former third-round pick by the Seahawks in 2019, Barton could be a legitimate upgrade for the Commanders at the linebacker position -- an upgrade they desperately needed. Barton emerged in 2022 to start a career-high 11 games while totaling 136 tackles, good for the 15th most of any player in the league. Barton’s one-year deal with the team is fully guaranteed. There’s a good chance he opens the season as the team’s starting inside linebacker alongside former first-rounder Jamin Davis.

Barton (6’3/237) made 23 starts in the Utes’ linebacker corps, moving from outside rover to the middle late in his career and graduating with 23.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and 11 pass breakups. A high school safety and tight end, Barton confirmed his impressive athleticism with very-nice 69th-percentile SPARQ results in Indy, running 4.64 with an also-very-nice 6.90 three-cone time. Based on his movement skills, range, size, and instincts, Barton has a chance to overachieve a la Browns MLB Joe Schobert.

Barton (6’3/237) made 23 starts in the Utes’ linebacker corps, moving from outside rover to the middle late in his career and graduating with 23.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and 11 pass breakups. A high school safety and tight end, Barton confirmed his impressive athleticism with very-nice 69th-percentile SPARQ results in Indy, running 4.64 with an also-very-nice 6.90 three-cone time. Based on his movement skills, range, size, and instincts, Barton has a chance to overachieve a la Browns MLB Joe Schobert.

"[Barton] comes with instincts, impressive strength and coverage ability, but he lacks the experience that leads to consistency and fundamental technique,” Miller writes of the 6-foot-2, 237-pound Utah product. He believes that Barton can work as a “core special teamer” even if he does not ultimately develop into an NFL linebacker. Miller’s assessment dovetails very much with that of NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein.

Zierlein, himself, calls Barton “instinctive,” adding that the 6-foot-2, 237-pounder’s “strengths (in play diagnosis and effort) give him a chance in the future” if he can show out well on special teams with his future pro outfit. At the NFL Scouting Combine this past weekend, Barton’s composite SPARQ score landed him in the 68th percentile of NFL linebackers. He didn’t blow the combine completely out of the water, but more than held his own athletically. The Utah product more a potential tough-nosed Day 3 flier.

While the Shrine Game does not generally attract the kind of known talent as the Senior Bowl, it serves the same purpose -- as an early springboard into the draft process. Barton (6'2/230) is coming off his best season of collegiate ball, having registered 92 tackles (10.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, an interception and five passes defensed in 53 games. He figures to need a strong evaluation period in the spring if he’s to crack Day 3 of the draft. If you want a quick look at Barton, you’ll have a chance to watch him strut his stuff in Friday evening’s Pac-12 Championship Game showdown with Washington.