Titans' young linebacker duo named one to watch heading into 2026
PFF ranks Titans' Cedric Gray and Anthony Hill Jr. among the NFL's top young linebacker pairings for 2026.
With all the attention on the NFL schedule release, it’s easy to overlook some opinions or news that comes out focused on specific players or teams. It was almost the case of this next piece, which focused on the top rookie-veteran pairings heading into the 2026 NFL season , where Daire Carragher of Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks the Titans among the top young linebacker units in the NFL. LB Cedric Gray & Anthony Hill Jr.
, Tennessee Titans Entering his second season as a starter, Gray is not as established as some of the other players mentioned on this list, but he finished 2025 as PFF’s seventh-highest-graded linebacker. His 92. 7 PFF run-defense grade ranked second among linebackers behind only Jack Campbell.
Gray may have challenged for an elite overall grade if not for underwhelming production as a blitzer, recording just one sack on 60 pass-rushing snaps. The 2024 fourth-round pick missed most of his rookie season due to injury before returning late in the year and standing out on special teams. His starting tape from 2025 was not flawless, as he recorded three games with at least three missed tackles and earned a 28.
1 PFF grade in a 24-point loss to the Colts . Still, the addition of Anthony Hill Jr. to Tennessee’s front seven could form one of the league’s more intriguing young linebacker pairings.