The holes on the interior of the Tennessee Titans‘ offensive line have dominated offseason discussions lately. Mike Borgonzi appears slated to enter the 2026 NFL Draft with needs at both right guard and center. At this week’s annual league ownership meetings, Borgonzi told Paul Kuharsky that starting two rookies at those positions is within the realm of possibility.
That raised red flags to those concerned about Cam Ward’s health. The Titans cut Lloyd Cushenberry at center and replaced him with veteran
backup Austin Schlottmann. Corey Levin also signed elsewhere in free agency. Titans sophomore blocker Jackson Slater is currently expected to compete with Schlottmann for the job.
At right guard, veteran Kevin Zeitler has not been re-signed and remains available. Borgonzi’s public comments throughout the offseason indicate the door remains open, but nothing appears imminent. Is it possible Zeitler is simply skipping OTAs?
All indications are that Zeitler isn’t retiring this offseason. The veteran is planning to return for a 15th season. Zeitler must be waiting for something before making his free agency decision. Perhaps the aging blocker isn’t interested in going through the grind of offseason workouts in the Nashville heat.
Zeitler, a 2023 Pro Bowler, is the definition of a professional. Pro Football Focus assigned him a stellar grade of 74.5 last season. Zeitler was credited with allowing just four sacks on 909 total snaps at right guard. It’s conceivable that he could skip OTAs and not miss a beat.
The Titans are still equipped with roughly a league-leading $60 million in cap space. Assuming Zeitler signs another one-year contract worth between $8 and $12 million, Borgonzi possesses plenty of financial wiggle room to re-sign him. Zeitler clearly has a free agency plan. Hopefully it’s to re-sign with the Titans to fill their glaring hole at right guard.
