Full Breakdown
Ravens End Draft Without a Center: DeCosta Explains the Gap
4/28/2026, 6:08:32 AM
The Draft Outcome and Center Void
The Baltimore Ravens concluded the 2026 NFL Draft with 11 new players but no true centers, leaving a direct replacement for Pro-Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum unaddressed. The team added offensive linemen Vega Ioane (1st round, guard) and Evan Beerntsen (7th round, guard) but retained interior options Corey Bullock, Jovaughn Gwyn and newly signed Danny Pinter to compete for the vacant spot.
Background: Linderbaum’s Departure and Draft Strategy
Linderbaum left Baltimore in free agency, creating what analysts described as “one of the Ravens’ biggest needs” at the heart of the offensive line. General Manager Eric DeCosta entered the draft intending to target a center, but the market shifted dramatically after the team selected edge rusher Zion Jones (or Zion Young, per differing reports) at pick 45.
Key Decision Points and Timeline
- Round 1 (Pick 45): Edge rusher Zion Jones selected, consuming the team’s early-round capital.
- Round 2 (Pick 57): Chicago Bears drafted Logan Jones, 2025 Rimington Trophy winner, a center DeCosta had identified as a target.
- Round 2 (Pick 63): Los Angeles Chargers selected Jake Slaughter, another center on Baltimore’s shortlist.
- Round 3 (Pick 80): Ravens resumed drafting; no centers remained available. DeCosta later noted that trading up would have required surrendering a third-, fourth-, and fifth-round pick, a cost he deemed “prohibitive.”
Data & Statistics
- Rookie tally: 11 selections, 0 centers.
- Targeted centers: Logan Jones (57th overall) and Jake Slaughter (63rd overall).
- Current interior linemen: Bullock, Gwyn, Pinter.
- Offseason signing: Center Danny Pinter (5th-round pick, 2020) – 2024 PFF grade 82.9 (starter), 2025 grade 56.5 (backup).
Official Statements & Responses
DeCosta described the outcome as “unfortunate” but expressed confidence in the roster: he believes the existing players will compete effectively, that the offensive line will be “great” once all pieces are in place, and that the plan for the center position is solid. He emphasized the trade-up cost, stating it was “probably prohibitive for us to get up that high in the draft.” DeCosta also invoked Hall of Fame GM Ozzie Newsome’s maxim, “you don’t play games until September,” to underscore the organization’s patience.
Criticism & Opposition
Fans and commentators, including Ryan Mink, highlighted the center vacancy as a glaring need, questioning why the Ravens did not trade up despite the clear demand. Some observers argued that the decision left the offensive line vulnerable heading into the season.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the edge rusher’s name (Zion Jones vs. Zion Young). No public evaluation of the internal competition for center has been released, leaving the ultimate solution uncertain beyond the Pinter signing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One of the Ravens’ biggest needs entering the draft was at center following the departure of Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum in free agency.” — Ryan Mink, Baltimore Ravens article
- “So, [it’s] unfortunate, but I’m ecstatic with the players that we were able to get. Honestly, like looking at this list of players, I probably wouldn’t do anything differently.” — Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens
- “I do think we’ll have a plan at the position, I feel confident in saying that,” — Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens
- “you don't play games until September” — Ozzie Newsome, Hall of Fame GM (quoted by DeCosta)
- “Probably prohibitive for us to get up that high in the draft,” — Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens
- “I think we have a couple guys here that will compete for that position. But as the Hall of Fame General Manager [Ozzie Newsome] once said, ‘You don’t play games until September.’ And I think we’ll have a great offensive line at that point.” — Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens
What’s Next
The Ravens will evaluate Bullock, Gwyn and Pinter during offseason workouts, aiming to solidify the center role before September. DeCosta’s public confidence suggests the team expects to field a functional offensive line early in the regular season, relying on internal competition and the newly signed center to fill the void left by Linderbaum.
