Ravens Face Center Conundrum After Linderbaum’s Exit

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2026 season without a clear successor to Pro-Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, who departed for the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $81 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. His exit left a vacancy at the heart of an offensive line that had anchored quarterback Lamar Jackson’s protection.

Sports Illustrated

Baltimore’s 11-pick draft class contained no center. The front office had targeted Logan Jones (Chicago Bears, No. 57) and Jake Slaughter (Los Angeles Chargers, No. 63) as its top prospects, but both were selected before the Ravens could pick again at No. 80. DeCosta later explained that trading up would have required surrendering third-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks, a cost he deemed “prohibitive.” Consequently, the team added undrafted Penn State center Nick Dawkins and focused on other positions.

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The internal competition features free-agent signing Danny Pinter (10 career starts, three to four at center last season), undrafted rookie Corey Bullock (13 career offensive snaps, three at center) and 2023 seventh-rounder Jovaughn Gwyn, who has not started an NFL game. Nick Dawkins, a former Penn State captain with a 79.8 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, also remains on the roster. Trade speculation has highlighted Saints veteran César Ruiz, a 83-start interior lineman, as a possible external option.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on center position: 'We're trying to figure that out'

General manager Eric DeCosta said the “hunt goes on” and expressed “tremendous confidence” in offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. He affirmed that the organization “has a plan at the position” and will continue to assess trade and free-agent markets. DeCosta also noted that “our scouts do a great job of finding players” and that the team will finalize its roster before September.

USA Today

Analysts and fans have criticized the lack of a clear replacement, noting that the depth chart is “alarming.” Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic warned that “it is possible, if not probable, that the Ravens’ starting Week 1 center is not currently on the roster,” a concern amplified by Lamar Jackson’s 36 sacks last season.

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The Ravens will monitor free-agent options and evaluate a trade for César Ruiz as training camp approaches. The competition among Pinter, Bullock, Gwyn and Dawkins will determine the Week 1 starter, while the front office refines its long-term plan.

Eric DeCosta teases potential fix for Ravens' unsettled center position

• “It didn’t work out for us this past weekend. I think there may be some potential trades we can look at and some other things we can do to address that position.” — Eric DeCosta, General Manager, Baltimore Ravens

Eric DeCosta teases potential fix for Ravens' unsettled center position

• “never really contemplated both guys getting picked after we picked Zion, before the start of the third round.” — Eric DeCosta

Sports Illustrated

• “I do think we’ll have a plan at the position.” — Eric DeCosta

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