Lloyd Cushenberry
Getty
Denver Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry.
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.
“TheTitans 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.”
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.