The Tennessee Titans may not be the first team that comes to mind when you think about elite linebacker duos, but Pro Football Focus (PFF) is betting that changes in 2026. In a recent breakdown of the NFL's top rookie-veteran pairings, analyst Daire Carragher highlighted Cedric Gray and Anthony Hill Jr. as a tandem worth watching—and for good reason.

Gray enters his second season as a starter after a breakout 2025 campaign. Despite not being as established as some of the league's veteran linebackers, he finished the year as PFF's seventh-highest-graded linebacker, with a stellar 92.7 run-defense grade that ranked second among all linebackers, trailing only Detroit's Jack Campbell. His only weak spot? Blitzing. On 60 pass-rushing snaps, Gray managed just one sack, leaving room for growth as a pass rusher.

A fourth-round pick in 2024, Gray missed most of his rookie season due to injury before returning late in the year and making an impact on special teams. His 2025 starting tape wasn't perfect—he had three games with at least three missed tackles and earned a 28.1 PFF grade in a lopsided loss to the Colts. Still, his overall trajectory points up, and the addition of Anthony Hill Jr. could be the missing piece.

Hill was projected as a first-round pick entering his final season at Texas, and his 2025 performance backed up that hype. He recorded 63 tackles with just three misses all season—a remarkable display of consistency. At the NFL Combine, he turned heads with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, showcasing elite athleticism. In coverage, Hill was equally impressive: he didn't allow a single touchdown in 2025, intercepted two passes, and saw just 20 completions thrown into his coverage, a sharp drop from 51 the previous season.

Together, Gray and Hill profile as a violent, impactful duo that could quietly become one of the league's most feared linebacker pairings. They may not grab headlines yet, but if their 2025 tape is any indication, the Titans have built something special in the middle of their defense.