The Minnesota Vikings’ immediate future at center is unclear after Ryan Kelly sustained three concussions in 2025. Kelly could return despite the brain health concerns, he could retire, or Minnesota could drop him. If the latter two options come to life, the club will need a replacement center from free agency or the draft. Well, via free agency, another option became available Wednesday: Titans lineman Lloyd Cushenberry III.
Cushenberry’s release gives Minnesota a starter-tested pivot if the Kelly plan turns shaky.
Cushenberry is not an elite center, but he could do the trick if Minnesota must keep the budget slim.
Lloyd Cushenberry’s Case as Minnesota’s Plan B at Center
Offensive line isn’t a huge concern in 2026, but Minnesota might need a center.
TEN Drops Cushenberry III
The Cushenberry III experiment in Tennessee ended after two seasons. CBS Sports‘ Bryan DeArdo wrote Wednesday, “The Tennessee Titans entered Wednesday with almost $100 million in cap space, the most in the NFL. That number increased after the team decided to release veteran Lloyd Cushenberry. Tennessee will save about $3.4 million in salary cap space by parting with Cushenberry, who was released with a failed physical designation.”
“A former third-round pick of the Denver Broncos, Cushenberry was released less than two years after the Titans signed him to a four-year, $50 million contract. An Achilles injury, however, sidelined him for the final games of the 2024 season. He played in 15 games this past season after starting the year on the team’s physically unable to perform list.”
Cushenberry will be free to sign anywhere in the league as early as now.
The Titans’ Plan Forward
Tennessee now needs a center. Its other option, Corey Levin, is a 31-year-old free agent. And a man named Drew Moss held down C3 duty in 2025 but didn’t play.
Trey Hill, also a center, signed a futures deal with the Titans; he’s never started a game in his five-season career.
From free agency or the draft, center rockets up the list of roster needs for Robert Saleh’s team.
Titans writer Paul Kuharsky wrote Thursday, “Center is now an additional need for a team in search of multiple ends who can rush the passer, three cornerbacks, a third safety, an off-the-ball linebacker, a couple wide receivers, a tight end and a right guard. That’s an immense list.”
“Corey Levin can be a quality backup. He’s not under contract and if he’s a fit for the new scheme, the team should look to bring him back to serve as a backup for Cushenberry’s replacement. But they need a better pivot to get the ball to Cam Ward, help organize protections and block up the middle.”
The Titans’ offense ranked 30th in EPA per play in 2025.
Kuharsky continued, “Tyler Lindebaum of the Ravens is scheduled to be unrestricted and is the top center likely to hit the market. Spotrac estimates he’s worth over $17 million a year. Buffalo’s Connor McGovern ($16.3 million) and Carolina’s Cade Mays ($12.3 million) are two other well-regarded free agents to be.”
“Conner Lew of Auburn (64th on the consensus big board), Jake Slaughter of Florida (79th), Sam Hecht of Kansas State (92nd) and Logan Jones of Iowa (107th) are regarded as the top centers in the draft.”
Cushenberry III’s History
Cushenberry III’s career can be characterized by ups and downs, starting slow in Denver and getting hot at the perfect time — the final year of his rookie contract. Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume:
2025: 55.2
2024: 55.4
2023: 73.2
2022: 56.2
2021: 64.3
2020: 40.5
He struck while the iron was hot two offseasons ago following the fantastic 2023 campaign, earning a deal worth $50 million over four years. Cushenberry III made it through two seasons of that contract and will now look for work elsewhere.
Generally speaking, he blocks against the pass rush better than he plows lanes for running backs. The newly minted free agent produced a 65.2 pass-blocking grade last season, which is decent. The 51.2 running-blocking mark is a different story.
The Vikings’ Current Options
Assuming Kelly retires or gets released by Minnesota, the team’s options in free agency might look like this:
- Tyler Linderbaum (BAL)
- Cade Mays (CAR)
- Luke Fortner (NO)
- James Daniels (MIA)
- Connor McGovern (BUF)
- Sean Rhyan (GB)
- Ethan Pocic (CLE)
And from the draft in April:
- Connor Lew (Auburn)
- Jake Slaughter (Florida)
- Parker Brailsford (Alabama)
- Pat Coogan (Indiana)
- Sam Hecht (Kansas)
If Minnesota signed Cushenberry III, someone on the coaching staff would basically hope to recreate his 2023 campaign and consider the last two seasons as outliers.
Cushenberry III will turn 29 in November.
