Titans coaching hire is already paying dividends in NFL free agency

When the Tennessee Titans hired Bill Callahan away from the Cleveland Browns to be the team’s new offensive line coach, it was sure to have massive ramifications on the organization's ability to develop talent in the trenches.

Callahan is one of the top offensive line coaches in the game. He has been for decades. But Callahan’s employment with the Titans has already helped them in NFL free agency as well.

According to new Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry, Callahan was the driving force for him signing with Tennessee.

"Biggest factor? Bill Callahan," Cushenberry said without hesitation when asked what contributed to him joining the Titans. "His resumé speaks for itself. He has coached a lot of great guys. I've heard a lot of great things about him and I think it's a good opportunity for me to continue to grow my game and take that next step as a player."

Cushenberry said he reached out to Cleveland Browns center Ethan Pocic to talk about Callahan. Pocic raved about his impact, which seems to be a trend among the coaches and players that have worked with Callahan in the past.

"I got a chance to talk to Ethan Pocic, the center in Cleveland who was telling me a lot about him. He raved about him," said Cushenberry. "[Callahan] is very detailed. When you get a chance to talk to him, it's just a different level of offensive line play that he unlocks."

As I mentioned, Cushenberry is not the first person to speak this highly of Bill Callahan. At the NFL Combine, Titans GM Ran Carthon raved about a “clinic” Callahan recently put on breaking down offensive line tape. It appears players from other organizations feel the same way. Callahan’s reputation precedes him in the best ways possible. That can only mean good things for the Titans down the road. 

As Tennessee enters into a new era of Titans football and redefines their identity as a football team, building the trenches is paramount. The Titans need to have consistent offensive line play to support a young quarterback and a pass-heavy offense. 

We knew Bill Callahan could help the Titans get the most out of the talent they have up front, but we're already seeing how Callahan's coaching and recruiting can give the Titans a leg up in acquiring the top offensive line talent.