The Tennessee Titans will enter training camp with significant question marks across the offensive line, specifically at center and right guard. The rookies reported to camp on Thursday (7/23), and the veterans will join them on Tuesday (7/28). That includes rookie linemen Pat Coogan and Fernando Carmona, who aren't expected to secure rookie-year roles despite the lack of exciting answers at those positions.
The Titans drafted Carmona in the fifth round after letting starting right guard Kevin Zeitler hit free agency. They drafted Coogan in the sixth after releasing starting center Lloyd Cushenberry with a failed physical designation. Despite that, don't expect Coogan or Carmona to compete for meaningful roles at training camp.
The Titans signed Austin Schlottmann to be the new starting center. Right guard will be decided by a competition between sophomore Jackson Slater and free-agent signing Cordell Volson. Carmona and Coogan were picks made with the future in mind.
Titans enter training camp with little-to-no expectations for rookie offensive linemen
Schlottmann reunites with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and position coach Carmen Bricillo in Tennessee after playing for them with the New York Giants. Internally, it seems the Titans see Volson as a bounce-back candidate at right guard. Both Carmona and Coogan are pretty far removed from any competitions for playing time.
Both Day Three selections are better served developing behind the scenes while potentially preparing to compete for starting roles in 2027. That's precisely what Slater did last season. Slater now enters camp with a fair opportunity to claim a starting role. Perhaps Coogan and Carmona can do the same next offseason.
Schlottmann is on a two-year contract, but won't be guaranteed anything in 2027, with Coogan possibly breathing down his neck. Volson signed a one-year contract. If Slater fails to defeat Volson in their upcoming position battle, then attention could shift to Carmona as the higher-upside player next offseason.
The Titans drafted Carmona and Coogan because they have long-term holes at center and guard. Nonetheless, they'll rely on veterans (or a developing sophomore in Slater's case) to fill those voids in 2026. If you possess expectations for Carmona and/or Coogan in 2026, you should lower them.
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