The Baltimore Ravens waited quite some time before addressing their center position this offseason. Tyler Linderbaum’s departure in free agency had fans holding their breath, and while their apparent replacement in Ethan Pocic isn’t at the same level, he should be reliable in the middle of an immensely improved offensive line.
Pocic's injury fears are real, though. He tore his Achilles tendon in December, and to make matters worse, he’s going to turn 31 years old before the 2026 campaign begins. That’s a scary situation.
With that in mind, there may be a chance that Pocic doesn’t completely lock up the starting gig. His one-year contract worth up to $4.5 million isn’t a significant investment by any means. And if his recovery slows, then the competition at center may remain open. If it is, Danny Pinter could take advantage of that.
Danny Pinter may still have decent shot to win Baltimore Ravens starting center job
Pinter was never confirmed to be the go-to guy before Pocic’s arrival, but all the clues were signaling that there was confidence that he could compete. And it wasn’t just that he may have been the leader to get starts this upcoming season, but the front office and coaching staff were, and still could be, enamored with his potential.
In a conversation with Cordell Woodland and Vinny Cerrato on 105.7 The Fan prior to the Pocic signing, Eric DeCosta couldn’t help but praise Pinter’s name, specifically bringing his name up in starting conversations.
“What gives me optimism is that Dwayne Ledford is really, really happy with our group,” DeCosta said. “He’s really, really high on Danny [Pinter], he’s high on Jovaughn [Gwyn], he’s high on Corey Bullock…Do I think that Danny can play effectively for us? I do because Dwayne is really high on him, and I love that.”
Now, DeCosta did mention the possibility of bringing in a center via trade or free agency, which obviously became Pocic, but that doesn’t change the fact that there’s plenty of belief in the building for Pinter. If Pocic shows any signs of slowing down early in training camp, he might actually have a path to win the job.
Of course, Ravens fans wouldn’t love it if this possibility played out that way. Danny Pinter has very little experience as a starter, and even less as a starting center. With Lamar Jackson coming off a year nagged by injuries, it’d be more reassuring if someone with significant pedigree (like Pocic) were snapping the football to Jackson.
However, regardless of how things play out, fans should put a lot of trust in Dwayne Ledford. It cannot be overstated how much of an improvement this year’s coaching staff is set to be, especially when it comes to the offensive line coach going from George Warhop to Ledford. Warhop brought major issues in his time leading that unit, while Ledford is praised as an offensive line guru.
That shift alone will change the game up front. Pair that with an overhaul at offensive guard with the additions of John Simpson and Vega Ioane, and the eventual starting center, whether that be Pocic, Pinter, or somehow someone else, will have his fair share of help along the interior. Those two moves will help give a bit more hope at that spot.
Ultimately, a veteran like Pocic with far more starts under his belt would more than likely be a better answer. And that’s even with the worries. However, it’s hard to ignore Pocic’s injury situation, and if he is limping even at all into the 2026 campaign, Pinter could be knocking on the door for a starting spot.
Add us as a preferred source on Google