Tennessee adds veteran depth at center as the competition to replace Lloyd Cushenberry begins to take shape.
Among the laundry list of needs for the Tennessee Titans entering free agency was a starting center to replace the recently released Lloyd Cushenberry III. And while the Titans have yet to make a major splash on the interior offensive line, they have at least added depth by bringing in a veteran who will be inserted into the competition for the starting job.
Austin Schlottmann is a 30-year-old interior offensive lineman who has spent seven seasons in the NFL after breaking into the league with the Denver Broncos in 2019 as an undrafted free agent.
Schlottmann has appeared in 85 games throughout his career, but he logged more offensive snaps in 2025 than at any other point in his NFL tenure. The veteran played in all 17 games for the New York Giants, making four starts and logging 362 offensive snaps.
Notably, every one of those snaps came at center, giving him valuable recent experience at the exact position Tennessee is looking to stabilize.
Once again, there’s a familiar connection that brings a free agent to Tennessee. Schlottmann spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons playing under Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in New York, continuing a trend of Tennessee targeting players with previous ties to its new coaching staff.
On a one-year deal, the signing gives the Titans another versatile interior lineman who can legitimately compete for the starting center job—unless that position is filled by a more established veteran in the coming days or weeks.
For now, Tennessee could very well enter training camp with Schlottmann locked in an open competition with Jackson Slater, the Titans’ fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Slater saw limited action during his rookie season, logging just 34 offensive snaps, but the organization is hoping he continues to develop heading into year two and can take on a bigger role.
If the long-term vision is for Slater to become the center of the future, there’s a logical bridge strategy in place. The veteran could handle the job early in the season, providing stability in front of rookie quarterback Cam Ward while Slater continues to refine his game before eventually taking over the role.
Of course, that entire scenario hinges on whether the Titans decide to make another move at the position. And given the aggressive start general manager Mike Borgonzi has made during the NFL’s legal tampering window, it would be unwise to assume Tennessee is finished exploring upgrades.
Even in a relatively small sample size, Schlottmann’s 2025 performance suggests the Titans could certainly do worse if he ends up being the Week 1 starter. Filling in for the injured John Michael Schmitz in New York, Schlottmann allowed zero sacks and just three quarterback pressures over his snaps at center. He was flagged only three times during the season and earned strong reviews from Giants coaches and scouts for the steadiness he provided along the interior.
According to early free agency reports, several teams viewed Schlottmann as either a potential starting center or a player capable of pushing for a starting role in camp.
The Titans fell into that camp. The question moving forward is whether a more proven option unexpectedly becomes available at the right price (Elgton Jenkins?). Tennessee likely won’t pass on an obvious upgrade—but at the same time, the early signs suggest the front office isn’t completely bound to the idea of spending big at center either.