Despite an encouraging offseason, the Baltimore Ravens still have one glaring question staring them dead in the face. Who’s going to replace Tyler Linderbaum? Linderbaum departed in free agency to cash in on a three-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, and since then, the Ravens have yet to settle on his heir.
Right now, the competition is between Jovaughn Gwyn and Danny Pinter, but both players lack proven starter experience. Sure, the two have shown signs of hope this offseason; however, neither will inspire confidence going into Week 1.
That’s why people believe Baltimore’s starting center isn’t on the roster. Some have identified Garrett Bradbury as a trade target, and others still have their eyes set on free agency.
Perhaps Ethan Pocic could be their guy. He was given the green light for training camp as he looks to return from an Achilles injury.
Browns starting center Ethan Pocic, who tore his Achilles last December, recently was cleared by Dr. Norman Waldrop to participate in training camp. Pocic is a free agent, and is said by a source to be “full go.” pic.twitter.com/yfmZ1W4SH1
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2026
Baltimore Ravens could find short-term Tyler Linderbaum replacement in Ethan Pocic
Ethan Pocic would be nothing more than a short-term replacement. The Ravens had their eyes on the likes of Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they weren’t able to find themselves in a position to draft them. It’s obvious that in the coming year, they’ll more than likely make a move for their next Linderbaum. For now, though, they could settle on a band-aid like Pocic.
Unfortunately, there are real risks with Pocic. He’s coming off a significant injury, is 30 years old, and if we’re being completely honest, he’s not much more than a slightly above-average center when healthy. Still, given the spot that Baltimore is in, Pocic seems like the best option right now.
Pocic is simply more reassuring than Jovaughn Gwyn and Danny Pinter. He has a country mile on both of those players in terms of experience. Through nine NFL seasons, Pocic has made 97 starts; 86 of which have come at center. That certainty would be incredibly beneficial with Lamar Jackson coming off a nightmarish year plagued by injuries.
In comparison, Gwyn doesn’t have a single start to his name and only has seen a handful of offensive snaps in three seasons. As for Pinter, he’s made 10 starts since entering the league in 2020, but just three of those have been at center (for what it’s worth, if anything, those three have been the last three starts he’s made over the last two seasons).
If the Ravens do opt to sign Pocic, it’d certainly make a lot of sense. They need a proven guy in that room. However, it’s not a guarantee that he’d be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. Sure, he’s been labeled as a full-go, but it’ll take a while before he’s back in football-ready shape. Regardless, if he can return to the field somewhat early on, he might prove to be a major upgrade for Baltimore in the middle of the offensive line.
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