The Baltimore Ravens did some reshuffling on their offensive line this offseason. And after months of rumors, it was confirmed on Wednesday that Bradley Bozeman will be the team’s starting center in 2021.
Head coach John Harbaugh spoke to the media after Wednesday’s practice and confirmed that Bozeman, who saw the majority of his reps at center, will be the team’s center this season.
This, of course, has been the assumption for months now, but now it’s been made official.
Bozeman has started the last two seasons at left guard but will be moving over to center and replacing Matt Skura, who started the majority of last year at the position.
The Ravens will have a new center in Bradley Bozeman this season
A sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Bozeman took over the full-time starting job at left guard in his second season. Since then, he’s started all 32 regular-season games and played a pivotal role in Baltimore’s dominant rushing attack.
The Ravens were rumored to be in the market for a center in the offseason following a disastrous season from Skura in which his botched snaps became a massive issue for the team.
However, Harbaugh insisted that they had different plans for the position. Those plans involved Bozeman moving over to the position he played at Alabama.
The 26-year-old will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2021 and it’s safe to say that he’s earned an extension at this point.
A natural center, Bozeman shifted over to left guard and has developed into a rock-solid offensive lineman for the Ravens. Given his consistency and versatility, Baltimore should absolutely look to extend him in the near future.
Even with players like Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews in need of new contracts as well.
The battle for the starting left guard job should be an interesting one with rookie third-round pick Ben Cleveland expected to be the favorite. He’ll have to hold off the likes of Ben Powers and Tyre Phillips in training camp, however.
The Ravens have high expectations for Bozeman in 2021 now that he’s returned to his natural position.
The offensive line received a bit of a makeover in the offseason, but Bozeman will be looking to provide the same level of consistent play that he has for the last two seasons.