Austin Schlottmann didn’t arrive in Tennessee with much noise around his name, but that quiet signing may wind up mattering a lot more than people expected. What looked like a simple depth move now has the feel of a real answer at center, with Schlottmann competing for the starting job this summer and making a strong case to be the man there in 2026.
What stands out first is how Schlottmann has built his NFL career. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent and has spent most of his time fighting for his spot, year after year.
"My whole career has been that, basically," said Schlottmann, to the Titans' Jim Wyatt. "(I) went to Denver in 2018 as an undrafted free agent with a super longshot of making it, stuck around on the practice squad, and then the next year you compete for a spot on the roster. And every year after that they are bringing guys in to replace you, and you have to compete and try and make the team.
"So, I think throughout my career I have learned how to do that. So, I think the best way to do it is just focus on yourself.
Just try and get better every day and work. Be the best version of you every day."
That kind of mindset has followed him through every stop. Schlottmann played his first three seasons with the Denver Broncos, appearing in 42 games and making seven starts. He then moved on to the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, where he played in 25 games and also started seven.
He later landed with the New York Giants for 2024 and 2025, and that stretch put him back in the orbit of Carmen Bricillo and Brian Daboll. Those two years mattered, because 2025 ended up being the best season of Schlottmann’s career and helped pave the way for his move to Nashville.
"I played my best football with Dabes and Carm, and I'd like to keep improving," Schlottmann said. "Just trying to keep getting better. If you are not improving, you are getting passed up."
The numbers back that up. In 2025, PFF gave Schlottmann a 70.8 overall grade, which ranked 10th out of 40 qualified centers. His 77 pass blocking grade was even stronger, landing fourth out of 40.
That’s the part the Titans have to love. There’s clearly something in this setup that fits him, even if the 2025 sample wasn’t huge. If he carries that level of play into 2026, Tennessee may have found a bargain.
There’s also the quarterback piece, and Schlottmann is already getting a feel for Cam Ward. For a center, that connection matters, and the early signs sound promising.
"Working with Cam has been great," Schlottmann said. He's dialed in, he's learning the system well.
He's super-fiery, which is fun, and that's contagious. You're on the field and he's fired up to be there, and he's fired up to go compete and try to beat the defense and fired up to score touchdowns and I think that is super contagious to guys in the huddle.
It's fun to be around."
Ward’s work ethic and edge are well known, and Schlottmann’s comments fit right alongside that. Add it all up, and the veteran center has the profile Tennessee wants: experienced, steady, and built for competition. Right now, he looks like the favorite.
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