Outside of some big defensive additions through the signings of Trey Hendrickson and Jaylinn Hawkins, the Baltimore Ravens haven’t been overly aggressive. Their approach to addressing the offense has been especially lackluster.
Most of the Ravens’ attention has been dead set on the interior offensive line. And rightfully so, they were unbelievably abysmal last year in that area. However, the players they’ve brought in aren’t exactly reassuring. Yes, John Simpson could be a fine starter, but the other additions of Jovaughn Gwyn and Danny Pinter aren’t expected to do much. At least that’s the assumption.
For Gwyn, he may have more talent than people realize. As he rejoins forces with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford in Baltimore, there’s reason to believe he could unlock that untapped potential. Ledford was obviously a huge fan of his when the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the seventh round back in the 2023 NFL Draft.
“[Gwyn] really plays hard, he really gets after it, and he’s gonna be a guy that gives you everything that he has,” Ledford said when talking about Gwyn following the 2023 NFL Draft. “When things are happening fast on the field, how is he reacting to it?... You don’t see those types of things affecting him.”
Baltimore Ravens’ unheralded move could develop nicely under continued coaching guidance
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. While Gwyn has barely played up to this point in his career, it’s evident that he made an impact on Ledford. As Ledford joins Jesse Minter’s staff, Gwyn will look to continue to build his relationship with one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL.
The former South Carolina Gamecock has gotten just 11 offensive snaps over three seasons. Each of those snaps did come in 2025, though, so he is clearly taking steps in the right direction. It’s smart of him to stick under that leadership with Ledford, and the 49-year-old coach likely put a good word in for him to Minter and company. With that respect level, there may be a shot for Gwyn to actually compete for starting snaps. Or at least rotational snaps.
The Ravens lost Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, so their center spot has taken an astronomically large hit. The guard spot opposite of Simpson is already a significant question mark, too. While both of those areas should, and if mock drafts come to fruition, will be addressed in the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s at least an opening for Gwyn to prove himself. And by already having someone who believes in him on the coaching staff, he could play his way into a more substantial role over the course of the offseason.
It’ll all depend on how the rest of the offseason goes, but right now, the roster outlook looks pretty good for Gwyn.