The Tennessee Titans make their first big free agent signing of the Brian Callahan era
By Will Lomas
When you look at the Tennessee Titans depth chart, you could argue that they should be looking for help at nearly every position whether that means upgrading a starter or adding depth. That is why it makes sense that the team was active when free agency unofficially started on Monday morning.
Free agency is never loaded with elite talents, but there are always a handful of premium players and dozens of solid options for teams that know what they want and are willing to spend the money.
No matter how much you love the draft, no team in the NFL has been built without using free agency, especially when you look at offensive lines. Look no further than the AFC Championship game this year.
In that game, more than half of the starting offensive linemen for the Kansas City Chiefs AND he Baltimore Ravens were free agents.
If Ran Carthon and Brian Callahan are going to try to get this team back in shape to compete with the rest of the AFC South, it is going to start in free agency. Their first step in that process was signing former Denver Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry.
This is a huge move for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans TE coach Justin Outten was the interim head coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022 and got to work very closely with Cushenberry during his time there. If the past is any indicator, then that hands-on experience and familiarity go a long way with Ran Carthon, and there is a good chance that Cushenberry was one of the Tennessee Titans top targets regardless of position.
Cushenberry is just 26 years old, but he has been a four-year starter in Denver and he is the type of player that would never see free agency if the Broncos weren't in such a tight cap situation.
However, their cap issue was the Tennessee Titans gain. Now the Tennessee Titans can pair Peter Skoronski with a top-3 center in the NFL in terms of pass-blocking according to PFF. That would be a far cry from Aaron Brewer who was bottom-10 in pass-blocking last season.
Cushenberry was projected to get $12.5 million AAV, and that is going to be the measuring stick for any deal when it is announced.
This is a good move for the franchise and it crosses a need off of the list heading into one of the best draft classes in recent history. However, it is just the start of the offseason and this team is going to need dozens of new additions before training camp starts in July.
Despite the Tony Pollard signing coming first, Cushenberry is the first big move for the Titans. The Peter Skoronski-Lloyd Cushenberry-Daniel Brunskill trio would be an above-average group of interior linemen regardless, but with Bill Callahan as their coach, they could be great.
Now all eyes shift toward offensive tackle, wide receiver, and cornerback.