Report: Broncos C Lloyd Cushenberry III Signs With Titans

And just like that, Lloyd Cushenberry III is no longer a member of the Denver Broncos.

The NFL's legal tampering window opened on Monday, and the early action has been hot and heavy. The Denver Broncos, after a whirlwind weekend that featured many roster moves and a trade to clear the salary cap and give the team some modest firepower, signed free-agent safety Brandon Jones and saw one of their own agree to terms with a Conference foe. 

According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, former Broncos safety Lloyd Cushenberry III is taking his talents to the Tennessee Titans

"The Titans are expected to sign free-agent center Lloyd Cushenberry, source says," Jones reported on X/Twitter. 

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According to Tom Pelissero, Cushenberry got a record-setting four-year deal from Tennessee worth $50 million. Cushenberry's signing bonus ($18M), full guarantee ($26M), and first-year cash take-home ($20M) are NFL records for a center. 

Cushenberry was Denver's third-round pick in 2020 out of LSU. He was earmarked to start on day one, and that's what he did, providing the Broncos with a reliable option at center. 

It wasn't always great, but Cushenberry could be counted on to suit up and be available on gameday. Some stretches of his four-year tenure in Denver were better than others, but his play over the first three seasons was mostly at a replacement level. 

However, as players often do, Cushenberry turned a corner in 2023 — a contract year. He was always a solid run blocker, but he improved dramatically as a pass blocker in Year 4, finishing as a top-10-graded center according to Pro Football Focus.  

Cushenberry's football IQ and leadership will be missed. But the Broncos, over the past two years, preemptively drafted two centers as a hedge against losing Cushenberry in free agency. 

Luke Wattenberg was a 2022 sixth-round pick, while Alex Forsyth was a seventh-rounder last year. Although the former has a little more tenure, Forsyth has to be considered the leader in the clubhouse to succeed Cushenberry as the Broncos' starting center. 

After all, Forsyth was not only a Sean Payton draft pick, but the Broncos head coach also gushed about him as a player with starter potential. Wattenberg and Forsyth will compete in training camp, and it's possible the Broncos draft another candidate. 


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Chad Jensen
CHAD JENSEN

Chad Jensen is the Founder of Mile High Huddle and creator of the wildly popular Mile High Huddle Podcast. Chad has been on the Denver Broncos beat since 2012 and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.