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Ravens 2021 offseason: How can they improve at center

By Billy Kosko

Dec 20, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates with guard Ben Powers (72) and guard Bradley Bozeman (77) after scoring a third quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates with guard Ben Powers (72) and guard Bradley Bozeman (77) after scoring a third quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baltimore Ravens
Oct 4, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; The Baltimore Ravens offense lines up against the Washington Football Team in the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The Ravens still have to figure things out at the center position:

The Ravens 2021 offseason is off to a great start! We immediately beefed up the offensive line by signing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler. What else needs to be done to effectively fill the voids on both sides of the ball?

We must consider what we can afford to fix in free agency. The rest has to be taken care of in the 2021 NFL Draft.

I will leave the “figuring out the money” part up to the Ravens’ front office because there are many ways they can manipulate the cap. However, I don’t see the Ravens spending too much money on any one player this offseason.

What can the Ravens do about their issues at center?

Ever since his injury in Week 12 of the 2019 season, Matt Skura hasn’t played the same. He had snap issues and ended up getting benched. Then, in the playoffs, Patrick Mekari ended up having snap issues too. Maybe the bad weather had something to do with it. Or maybe Mekari wasn’t used to having fan noise play a role in the game.

It doesn’t really matter what the reasoning is. The Ravens need to figure something out at the center position. I don’t see them bringing Matt Skura back. And I don’t see Mekari being the starter next season. Your offense can’t be productive if the ball isn’t being snapped well.

Is this something we fix in free agency or the draft? Or do they do it in-house by shifting Bradley Bozeman to center?

Option #1: Switch Bradley Bozeman to center

Bradley Bozeman was the starting center for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2016 and 2017. He started for them when they won the National Championship in 2017.

At the end of the season, Eric DeCosta wouldn’t give an answer in his press conference about whether Bozeman is the answer to Baltimore’s issues at center.

"“I would defer to the coaches on Bradley…Bradley’s played center, but we’ll play who we think should play at that position.”"

I personally feel that it makes sense. Bradley Bozeman is someone that Lamar Jackson already trusts. He has experience playing center for a successful team in college. And he has done well so far playing left guard. This leads me to believe he would play even better at center.

It would certainly make the Ravens 2021 offseason that much easier if they already had their future center.

But…

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