New addition puts 2023 Titans starter's roster spot in jeopardy

The Tennessee Titans have made sweeping changes to their offensive line this offseason. In addition to bigger moves like the acquisitions of first-round pick J.C. Latham and center Lloyd Cushenberry, the Titans signed right guard Saahdiq Charles to a modest one-year contract in free agency.

Charles' arrival placed 2023 starter Daniel Brunskill in flux. The new regime, including head coach Brian Callahan and offensive line coach Bill Callahan, seem to prefer Charles at right guard. It was he, not Brunskill, that primarily worked alongside the starters throughout organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp.

When Brunskill finally spoke with the media, he admitted that the Titans asked him to be the backup center through spring and summer workouts.

Now even that position appears to be in jeopardy. Sources confirmed that the Titans signed free-agent center Corey Levin on Thursday morning. Levin is a veteran that is reuniting with the Titans.

He initially joined the Titans as their sixth-round selection out of local program Chattanooga in the 2017 NFL Draft. Levin played two seasons in Tennessee before being released from his rookie contract in 2019. He bounced around the league for a bit before reuniting with the Titans in 2021, and had spent the better portion of the previous three seasons with the team.

Levin's latest one-year contract with the Titans expired earlier this year in March, and he’d been a free agent ever since. Brunskill missed Wednesday's practice with a sickness, but returned to the field on Thursday. That didn't prevent the Titans from adding competition at backup center via Levin.

Levin didn't play much for the Titans in 2023, earning just nine total offensive snaps. Last year's starting center Aaron Brewer was healthy all season long, playing 100% of the team's offensive snaps (1,050). Levin earned considerably more play-time in 2022, earning a stellar pass-blocking grade of 81.6 from Pro Football Focus while playing 251 snaps. He's a quality backup center that poses a threat to Brunskill's roster spot.

Bill Callahan has always preferred bigger-bodied interior offensive linemen throughout his legendary career. Charles is significantly larger and more athletic than the undersized Brunskill. Former second-round pick Dillon Radunz has been working as the second-team right guard, throwing another wrench into Brunskill's hopes of retaining last year's role.

It'll be worth monitoring how the Titans manage Levin and Brunskill throughout upcoming training camp practices and the preseason. Adding Charles already placed Brunskill in no-man's land. Adding Levin could eventually push him off the roster altogether.