The Baltimore Ravens weren’t hiding their need for a center. They couldn’t. The offensive line lost all three center options, and rookie guard Vega Ioane had to snap the ball in last week’s win over the Tennessee Titans. Luckily, Cam Jurgens is here.
Baltimore acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday for a steep price of a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. The Ravens also received a 2027 seventh-round pick along with Jurgens.
Jurgens might be the center this team needs. Sure, he’s struggled significantly in 2026, but those issues have come at guard. That’s not his position. He’s a center, and by kicking back over to his home, he could bounce back.
Baltimore will be frantically hoping for that.
Baltimore Ravens moving Cam Jurgens back to center could spark a turnaround
If the worst-kept secret was the Ravens’ search for a center, the second worst has been Cam Jurgens’ incompetence as a starting guard for the Eagles this year. According to Pro Football Focus, his 38.7 overall grade, 31.7 pass-blocking grade, and 50.3 run-blocking grade all rank in the bottom 10 among guards.
All that’s in the past now, though. He’s a Raven. It’s a fresh start for a player who definitely needed it, and more importantly, it’s a return to center.
When healthy, Jurgens has been a very capable center. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, and although one of those Pro Bowl nods came in what was a rather disappointing 2025 campaign, he dealt with the lingering effects of a back injury that occurred late in 2024.
In 2024, when he was fully healthy and played at his natural position, Jurgens looked like a top-10 center. He had a 67.1 PFF grade for that campaign and seemed to be on an upward trend.
You also must factor in that 2026 is Jurgens’ first time feeling truly healthy since that injury. Sure, he’s had a horrendous go of things at guard, but in his lone start at center in the season opener, he was fantastic.
Jurgens held the Washington Commanders to 0 pressures in Week 1, and finished with an 84.6 pass-blocking grade, per PFF. If that’s any sign of the player the Ravens are getting, this could be a win.
He’s also an excellent fit in Charm City. Eric DeCosta noted the scheme fit in his statement following the trade. As for Dwayne Ledford’s philosophy of speed off the ball, Jurgens fits that to perfection.
Coming out of Nebraska, Jurgens was highly praised for his explosion out of his stance and above-average athleticism. He’s never had elite play strength, but that quickness is usually the catalyst for his wins up front.
At the very least, he’ll be better than what the Ravens currently have, which is…nothing. They can safely move Vega Ioane back to guard, and if Jurgens does re-emerge, then they have a franchise center under a good contract through 2029.
Jurgens’ toughness is exactly what the Ravens want
And when it comes to the attitude he brings, Jurgens has the mental and physical toughness needed to turn things around.
His former teammate and the one who advocated for him to be drafted, Jason Kelce, had only good things to say about Jurgens in a recent segment on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I am excited for [Jurgens] to go back to the center position. He’s playing out of position, not playing the best football and up to his standard,” Kelce said. “This is a guy who meant a lot to the Philadelphia Eagles…played through injury. He played with the back last year. This is a guy who’s been very tough, very durable in terms of what he’s played through. I look forward to seeing what he can do in Baltimore.”
The biggest key here might be Jurgens’ desire to go out there and go to war for his teammates. Back injuries are about the worst issue an offensive lineman can deal with, and Jurgens has shown he’s ready to fight through whatever.
That toughness says more than anything about what type of player the Ravens are getting. Coming into 2026, Jurgens talked about how excruciating it was to play through the injury in the 2024 playoffs, noting that it was difficult to walk, and even saying he didn’t know how he was playing. It was that bad.
Those are the signs of a warrior. Baltimore will be happy to welcome that mentality to the trenches, and hopefully Jurgens’ relentless work ethic can translate into better production.
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