The Baltimore Ravens’ biggest weakness entering 2026 is no secret. Their center spot is a Titanic-sized question mark. It’s looking extremely rough right now.
Simply put, the Ravens need one of the competitors in their center battle to break out and reveal themselves as the clear front-runner. Danny Pinter might be the top guy right now, but others like Jovaughn Gwyn, Corey Bullock, and Nick Dawkins could have something to say about that.
Eric DeCosta hasn’t shut down a trade, though. As we move closer to the regular season, it may look increasingly unlikely, but there’s still a chance.
In a recent article for Baltimore Ravens on SI, Donovan Gibbs highlighted four moves that the Ravens could still make. Possibly the most impactful of his listed moves is a trade for Arizona Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt. The trade package? Rashod Bateman, Broderick Washington, and Andrew Vorhees.
Woah!
Baltimore Ravens’ wild mock trade might be the exact move Eric DeCosta needs to make
Giving up Bateman, Washington, and Vorhees is a lot to lose. I mean, sure, each of those players struggled in 2025 and has been inconsistent throughout their tenures in Baltimore, but they are still players who provide important depth. However, Gibbs explains the trade for Forholdt pretty well. He wrote:
“This is an extremely steep price for one of the better centers in the league, but it is one that Baltimore will have to consider because of Froholdt’s ability to slot anywhere on the interior offensive line and experience…Froholdt’s Pro Football Focus grade was 69.4 last year, ranking 14th out of 40 centers.”
Well, it’s easy to see why Froholdt would be a great fit. He might actually be the perfect fit. As the Ravens look to replace Tyler Linderbaum, slotting in a guy like Froholdt, who has been in the league since 2019 and has been the go-to starter for three consecutive seasons, would be a spectacular addition. That experience would provide a seamless transition into the new era at the center spot, while also providing a shoulder to lean on for rookie guard Vega Ioane.
There’s all the risk in the world in this mock trade, though. Well, kind of. Again, while the production wasn’t there from Bateman, Washington, and Vorhees last year, they may still have some sort of role in 2026. However, on the flip side, the young talent behind that trio of names on Baltimore's roster that could put those guys out of business.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, Baltimore selected two wide receivers in Ja’Kobi Lane (third round) and Elijah Sarratt (fourth round). A learning curve is to be expected, but if they get the ball rolling quicker than expected, Bateman could begin to lose out on snaps. That’s especially true if Devontez Walker carves out a more substantial role.
In Washington’s case, he actually already seems like a cut candidate. He’s had a bit of a fall from grace since signing a contract extension back in 2023, and clearly, he's running out of time. Although a bounce back could be in the cards, Aeneas Peebles and Rayshaun Benny will be gunning for his snaps in training camp.
Finally, Vorhees has already seen a downward trend. He was significantly disappointing last year and will likely never see consistent starting snaps again after the team added John Simpson and Vega Ioane in the offseason. And sure, backups are important, but Emery Jones Jr. is looking to make a name for himself in year two, and the Ravens drafted Evan Beerntsen in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft (that’s not really a high-quality selection, but it adds depth nonetheless).
So, looking at it, trading three players who have gotten a great deal of snaps in recent years could actually be worth it for Froholdt. As Baltimore looks to get back into playoff contention, the center spot could be the last order of business to tend to. There’s a chance there aren’t many holes on this roster in 2026, and acquiring Froholdt in a deal of such magnitude would be a risky decision, but it could pay off in a massive way.
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