The Baltimore Ravens are searching for the future of their center position this offseason. They tried tirelessly to retain center Tyler Linderbaum, but he signed a record-breaking deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for a stunning $81 million over three years. It’ll be tough to find a replacement for the three-time Pro Bowler.
The Ravens have added some decent pieces to provide a deeper interior offensive line room. They brought in Jovaughn Gwyn early in free agency, and recently signed Danny Pinter, as well. Both provide versatility between guard and center, and while they are nice to have as backups, neither has proved to be starting-caliber.
Depth is nice. Depth can help patch the holes in the wake of injuries. However, depth signings like Gwyn and Pinter are likely not who you want as the lead protectors for quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2026. This post-Linderbaum era will be tough, and at the moment, it’s looking like a brewing storm.
Baltimore Ravens’ center position could be a major problem for Lamar Jackson in 2026
After an injury-riddled 2025 season, the Ravens needed to invest in better protection for Jackson. They did that on the coaching front, replacing George Warhop with one of the more respected offensive line coaches in the NFL, Dwayne Ledford. They also signed guard John Simpson, who should be far better than what Baltimore had at guard last year. Still, to ensure Jackson stays healthy and reaches his full potential, they need more, especially at center.
Gwyn and Pinter could definitely bring something of value. Gwyn comes over from the Atlanta Falcons, where he was coached by Ledford for the past three years. His issue? He’s only taken 11 offensive snaps in his three-year career.
New Ravens OL Jovaughn Gwyn has played 11 offensive snaps total in his career, so here's all 9 of his meaningful snaps.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) March 12, 2026
He's No. 52 and playing mainly right guard here, except for 1 fullback snap at the end. pic.twitter.com/qTyjKyUrn2
In Pinter’s case, he was a backup lineman for the Indianapolis Colts from 2020 to 2025. He, too, didn’t see the field a lot, but has logged 10 starts in his six-year career. Regardless, neither Gwyn nor Pinter brings much certainty as starters. Jackson simply needs better in front of him.
The two signings are likely going to be backups. General manager Eric DeCosta mentioned in a recent press conference that the organization has had a ton of success in drafting centers. It sounds like that’ll be the route they go for next year’s starter at the center spot.
If the Ravens want to bring in a rookie with any chance at realistically replacing Linderbaum, they should draft a center within the first three rounds. The 2026 class has some strong prospects there, including Florida’s Jake Slaughter, Auburn’s Connor Lew, Kansas State’s Sam Hecht, and Iowa’s Logan Jones. Even Utah tackle Spencer Fano has been named as a player who could potentially transition to center at the next level.
While the depth is looking far better than it was last year, it’s obvious the interior offensive line has taken a major hit. The Linderbaum void feels overwhelming right now, and the front office has to take significant measures to address that in the draft. Gwyn and Pinter are simply not going to be enough.