Full Breakdown
Baltimore Ravens Confront Center Vacancy After Linderbaum's Departure
4/29/2026, 8:25:54 AM
Ravens' Center Vacancy After Linderbaum's Exit
The Ravens entered the 2026 offseason without a clear successor at center. Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum left for the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $81 million contract, and the team drafted guard Olaivavega Ioane at No. 14 overall but did not select a center, leaving a question mark at the position.
Draft Strategy and the Decision to Skip Center
General manager Eric DeCosta said the original plan was to draft a center, but his preferred targets were taken before the Ravens could pick. Instead, the team reinforced the guard spots by signing veteran John Simpson and drafting Ioane, leaving the center role for later.
Internal Competition for the Position
The roster lists five contenders: undrafted free agent Corey Bullock, who impressed in preseason; free-agent guard Danny Pinter, who logged 139 snaps for the Colts in 2025; free-agent Jovaughn Gwyn, a former Atlanta lineman familiar with new OL coach Dwayne Ledford; 2026 draftee Evan Beernsten, a guard with occasional center snaps; and undrafted rookie Nick Dawkins, a Penn State product with chemistry with Ioane but unlikely to start immediately.
Veteran Free-Agent Options
Available veterans include Ethan Pocic, whose December Achilles tear may sideline him; Graham Glasgow, a former Colts starter with a 2025 PFF grade of 56.8 (the Browns’ center posted 63.8); and 33-year-old Kevin Zeitler, who is willing to play center and is cited as a possible solution.
Official Statements from Management
DeCosta told reporters the Ravens “have a plan” and that several players will compete for the center job, quoting Hall of Fame GM Ozzie Newsome’s maxim that teams “don’t play games until September,” signaling confidence the line will be set by training camp.
Criticism of the Draft Approach
Analysts argue that skipping a center created a glaring gap, a strategic misstep that forces Baltimore to rely on free-agency or untested rookies for a critical interior-line role.
Conflicting Assessments & Information Gaps
Sources differ on the best solution: internal candidates offer scheme familiarity but limited snaps, while veterans like Glasgow provide proven play but lower recent grades and age concerns. Pocic’s injury status and Zeitler’s fit remain unverified, leaving the decision open.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I do think we’ll have a plan at the position, I feel confident in saying that,” — Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens
- “I think we have a couple guys here that will compete for that position.” — 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.” — Ozzie Newsome, Hall of Fame General Manager (quoted by DeCosta)
- “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
Outlook for the Upcoming Training Camp
The first OTAs and mandatory minicamp will test the internal hopefuls. If competition fails to produce a starter, Baltimore is expected to pursue veteran free-agent signings before the roster deadline.
