The Baltimore Ravens are hoping they’ve found their center. They took a big swing on Wednesday, acquiring Cam Jurgens from the Philadelphia Eagles. The move is a huge gamble, though.
The trade package was incredibly steep. For Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick, the Ravens had to part with a haul. They sent a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to Philadelphia.
The risk is through the roof based on current value. For what Baltimore gave up, you’d usually expect an immediate, high-impact starter in return. Jurgens has been a scuffling guard who’s been borderline unplayable in 2026.
The Ravens are betting a move back to center will pay off in a big way for Jurgens. If it doesn’t, the organization could be regretting this one for a while.
Baltimore Ravens take high-stakes gamble in Cam Jurgens trade
If you look at how Cam Jurgens has played this year, the price honestly looks laughable. He’s been whiffing, failing to maintain blocks, and has put up a 38.7 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus.
The last time Baltimore parted with second- and fifth-round selections, they netted Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears. That’s an All-Pro linebacker. Jurgens is an interior lineman on a downward trend.
The worst-case outcome of this trade is a massive overpay and a bust for the Ravens. The 27-year-old has been an awful guard, and some stats don’t exactly assure that a switch back to center will save the day. His blown-block rate in 2024 and 2025 was nothing short of a disaster.
Cam Jurgens has played mostly left guard this season. But he projects as a center in Baltimore.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) October 7, 2026
Here's where he's ranked in blown-block rate at each spot, per @SportsInfo_SIS ...
🏈 2024: 3.0% (33rd of 37 Cs)
🏈 2025: 3.0% (34th of 35 Cs)
🏈 2026: 1.8% (14th of 33 RGs)
And the last time a center was traded, the Bears acquired Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots for a future fifth-round draft pick. Jurgens is better than Bradbury when he’s been healthy at center, but this year has shown a version of Jurgens that’s barely even worth an early Day 3 pick.
Eagles held all the leverage in this deal
Of course, several factors definitely drove up the price. The Ravens were in desperate need of a center and had to act quickly with all three centers on IR. With his past success, Jurgens became their guy.
More notably, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said they weren’t looking to deal Jurgens until the Ravens offered a package they couldn’t turn down.
“We weren't looking to move Cam. Obviously, the Ravens have been looking for a center ... Told them it wasn't anything we were looking to do,” Roseman said. “Over the last 24 hours, it got to the point where we felt like it could be a win-win. Obviously, getting a player who's been a two-time Pro Bowl center and, for us, being able to get the picks we're able to get.”
Jurgens is also locked into a long-term contract. He signed a four-year, $68 million extension in 2025, which runs through 2029. The hope is he won’t be a quick in-the-moment fix at center — he could be Baltimore’s franchise guy.
That in itself is a risk, too. While the Eagles already paid Jurgens' bonuses for 2026, the Ravens are on the hook for $16 million fully guaranteed next season. If he doesn't turn things around, he could look like a financial burden in 2027.
Fortunately, there’s hope for Jurgens. In his only start at center this year, he was impressive. He didn’t allow a single pressure in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, and finished with an 84.6 pass-block grade, per Pro Football Focus.
If he can return to Pro Bowl form and be the steady pass protector Lamar Jackson needs, no one will be complaining. Right now, though, he might have a windy road to redemption before the trade looks worth it.
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