The Tennessee Titans added massive upgrade at the center position in free agency when the team inked former Denver Broncos center, Lloyd Cushenberry.
Cushenberry landed himself a massive four-year, $50 million deal that places him tied for second among centers in terms of annual average ($12.5 million), according to Over the Cap.
The deal also includes an $18 million signing bonus and $20 million in first-year cash — both of which are records for the position — and $26 million fully guaranteed, the second-most for a center in league history.
Here’s a look at the full breakdown, per Over the Cap:
As was the case with Calvin Ridley’s contract, the deal is friendly to the cap in Year 1, with Cushenberry accounting for just $6.4 million.
The cap hit more than doubles after that, but there is a fairly reasonable out in Year 3 if things really go south, as cutting him would lead to a $9.05 million dead-cap charge if done pre-June 1, and a $4.5 million dead-cap hit if post-June 1. Tennessee would save $3.4 million or $8 million, respectively.
Cutting Cush in the final year of the contract would leave the Titans with just a $4.5 million dead-cap charge and net them a savings of $12 million.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to any of that, though, and Cushenberry proves to be the long-term solution Tennessee needs.
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