The Tennessee Titans entered free agency looking for a new starting center. That was the result of general manager Mike Borgonzi's decision to release starter Lloyd Cushenberry from his contract earlier this offseason. It's an important position given that sophomore quarterback Cam Ward is recovering from a shoulder injury.
The Titans were big spenders during Monday's legal tampering period. They added weapons like wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, and cornerbacks Cordale Flott and Alontae Taylor. When it came to center, the Titans took a far less conventional approach.
The Titans signed former New York Giants center Austin Schlottmann to a one-year contract, Tom Pelissero reported. Schlottmann becomes the fourth former Giants player to join the Titans via free agency. If he's the plan to replace Cushenberry as the starting center, it's a risky one.
Titans make unforeseen signing at center that leads to more questions than answers
Schlottmann began the 2025 campaign as the Giants' backup center. He eventually entered the lineup due to an injury to starter John Michael Schmitz. Schlottmann performed admirably all things considered.
The veteran center earned 362 snaps at the pivot position. Pro Football Focus assigned him a stellar overall grade of 70.8. They only credited Schlottmann with allowing three quarterback pressures and zero sacks. He was whistled for just three penalties.
The move reunites Scholottmann with new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who was his head coach last season. That means Schlottmann will possess a high-level understanding of the offensive scheme. Whether or not he's a starting-caliber center is up for debate. Last year's sample size was small.
The Titans did not pursue top-tier free agent centers like Tyler Linderbaum and Cade Mays. Instead, they identified Schlottmann as a shrewd option on the market. Whether that's as a backup or starter remains to be defined. For Ward's sake, a bigger move at center is warranted.