The Denver Broncos were in a much different situation — in almost every sense of the words — following the 2023 season.
Staring down $85 million in dead cap money spread out over the 2024 and 2025 seasons after cutting quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos were forced to make some tough financial decisions.
One of the toughest decisions came when they watched center Lloyd Cushenberry leave for a 4-year, $50 million free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.
Now, Cushenberry finds himself back on the open market in a surprising turn of events.
“The Titans are releasing starting center Lloyd Cushenberry, sources say, moving on from a former big-ticket free agent from 2024,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on Wednesday. “He signed a 4-year, $50M deal two years ago and was due $8M this season. Now, Cam Ward will have a new center … Cushenberry is coming off shoulder surgery, but should be fully good to go for the 2026 season.”
Broncos let Lloyd Cushenberry hit the open market and he got paid. Broncos then replaced him with Luke Wattenberg, who then they gave a big contract too
“Broncos let Lloyd Cushenberry hit the open market and he got paid,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on X. “Broncos then replaced him with Luke Wattenberg, who then they gave a big contract, too.”
The Broncos have made the playoffs in each of the last 2 seasons without Cushenberry, and found a long-term plan at center in the process with Luke Wattenberg, who signed a 4-year, $48 million contract in November 2025.
“Titans released center Lloyd Cushenberry and safety Xavier Woods,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Cushenberry was released with a failed physical designation.”
Cushenberry Will Get Another Opportunity
If Cushenberry is indeed OK to play in 2026, there’s little doubt a team will bring him in as long as he passes a physical.
Cushenberry got every cent of the $30 million in guaranteed money in his contract with the Titans and has approximately $36 million in career earnings.
The Titans are in the midst of a massive rebuilding effort under 1st year head coach Robert Saleh and now head into free agency with over $100 million in cap space.
“Can confirm the Titans have released C Lloyd Cushenberry,” NFL reporter Easton Freeze wrote on his official X account. “There was a team ‘out’ in his 4 year/$50M contract after year 2, and GM Mike Borgonzi has chosen to take it. It saves them $3.4M in cap space in 2026, with a dead cap charge of $9M.”
Starred on Legendary College Football Squad
Cushenberry, 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, was 1 of the stars on arguably the greatest college football team of all time in 2019 at LSU, where he teamed with future fellow NFL stars like quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
That year, the Tigers went 15-0 on the way to winning the College Football Playoff national championship and set NCAA records with 726 total points and 8,526 yards while averaging 48.4 points and 568.4 yards per game.
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