Why Ravens OL Ben Powers playing a new position is significant

The Baltimore Ravens are looking to determine their Week 1 starting left guard this summer, and among those competing for the job is veteran Ben Powers. That’s not all Powers has been doing this summer, however.

Powers is in competition with the likes of Tyre Phillips and Ben Cleveland for the starting left guard job, although that’s not where he played during Thursday’s preseason opener.

Instead, Powers received the start at right guard while Phillips manned the left guard position. The former fourth-round pick then took over for Patrick Mekari at center and played some snaps there.

Powers has been showing off his versatility ahead of the 2022 season, something that could help him secure a role in Baltimore…or perhaps elsewhere.

What will the Ravens do with Ben Powers this summer?

Powers has already proven his worth to the Ravens. The 25-year-old has started 19 games over the last two seasons and has proven to be a capable fringe starter with the versatility to play either guard spot.

This offseason, the Ravens have added “center” to Powers’ resume.

The former Oklahoma standout has been receiving plenty of reps at center throughout training camp and even received some snaps at the position in the preseason opener.

The Ravens aren’t looking for a starting center. They’re not even looking for a backup. The duo of Tyler Linderbaum and Patrick Mekari gives the Ravens some of the best center depth in the NFL.

Powers is simply an emergency third-string center who’s also competing for the starting job. But the team’s decision to expand his versatility could be just as much about increasing his trade value as it is about improving their offensive line depth.

Powers is a player who could start on quite a few rosters in the NFL. With offensive line play at such a premium in this league, perhaps the Ravens could consider shopping Powers around this summer.

The Ravens seem comfortable with Phillips and Cleveland at left guard. They have Mekari who can back up Linderbaum at center and play pretty much anywhere on the offensive line.

If some team is willing to give up a valuable Day 3 pick for Powers, a player who’s entering the final year of his rookie contract for the record, the Ravens might just pull the trigger.

Increasing his versatility also increases his trade value. That’s an important part of this that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Now, this doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to trade him. Powers could very well still beat out Phillips and Cleveland for the starting left guard job.

If anything, his versatility is bad news for Trystan Colon who was already on the outside of the roster bubble looking in as the de facto third center. It’s hard to see Colon sticking around if Powers is still on the roster.

Either way, Ben Powers’ versatility is a good thing for the Ravens and for Powers himself, whether he’s on the roster in a few weeks or playing elsewhere.