Ravens’ Center Battle Could Last Through Camp

After Linderbaum departed, the only potential center remaining on the roster in Baltimore was exclusive rights free agent Corey Bullock, an undrafted lineman the team signed two years ago. Starting off his collegiate career at North Carolina Central before transferring to Maryland in 2023, started games at every offensive line position except center and right tackle. When he arrived in Baltimore, though, the Ravens had early visions of his potential at center. After the preseason, he didn’t see any playing time in his rookie year, but he started all three preseason games last year at center and ended up taking the backup position.

Though the team had eyes on Bullock’s potential, that didn’t mean he was ready to take over for Linderbaum, so Baltimore went out in search of competition for the job. The team ended up signing three free agents to compete with Bullock, the first of which was Jovaughn Gwyn, a seventh-round backup for the Falcons over the past three years. Like Bullock, Gwyn didn’t get any center work until some NFL preseason appearances. He saw only three special teams snaps in two games over his first two seasons but became a more integral piece of Atlanta’s special teams unit last year while playing a reserve role on offense.

A few days later, the Ravens signed Danny Pinter, a longtime backup for the Colts. A standout tackle at Ball State, Pinter arrived in Indianapolis as a fifth-round pick and filled in for a start at center his rookie season. Since then, he’s started six more games at center and two at right guard for the Colts. Pinter completed the trio of centers the Ravens spent most of the offseason with, and he appeared to be the early favorite to land the starting job if all things stayed constant.

Dissatisfied with the lack of proven starting experience, Ravens media and fans called for the addition of a veteran free agent or trade target. The team took their time, but eventually, veteran Browns center Ethan Pocic signed a deal to join the competition. In Pocic, the Ravens finally had experience in the room. Over nine years with the Seahawks and Browns, Pocic started 97 of 114 game appearances.

Pocic didn’t begin to really impress with his performance until his final year in Seattle, which helped him land a free agent deal in Cleveland. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Pocic as the third-best center in the NFL in his first year with the Browns. He followed that up with another strong campaign in 2023, but the following two seasons have seen his quality of play go down more towards league average. Pocic is also working his way back from an Achilles tear that ended his season in Week 14 last year.

So, even with his starting experience, it doesn’t appear Pocic has the starting job locked up, just yet. Ledford told the media, “We want to make sure that we’re diligent in giving everybody the opportunity that’s here and just make sure we get the right guy that we want in there with that first group.”