I’m sure the Ravens weren’t completely caught off guard by losing C Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency. They had plenty of time to prepare contingencies after declining Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last May, and the closer it got to the start of free agency, the more realistic a Linderbaum exit became. 

But I don’t think anyone foresaw the Raiders going to such extreme lengths, giving Linderbaum $27 million per year on a three-year deal that, for all practical purposes, is fully guaranteed. And whatever Plan B was, I don’t think the Ravens were able to execute that either. Given that the current depth chart has journeyman Danny Pinter at the top, the Ravens might have struck out on Plans C, D and E, too. 

The Ravens weren’t able to add a lot to the position going into the draft, whether by getting priced out or by choice. The draft came and went without the Ravens using any of their 11 picks on a center despite it being billed as a deep class. Afterward, GM Eric DeCosta acknowledged other teams were well aware of Baltimore’s situation at center and they were sniped on a few occasions with players they liked. 

DeCosta also said the Ravens might turn to the trade market to fill a glaring need on what otherwise is shaping up to be a possible Super Bowl-contending squad. They do have a few options, depending on how much they want to spend, but the Ravens are not working from a position of leverage here and that’s going to impact how things unfold. The good news is that Week 1 remains 15 weeks away, so the Ravens have some time to figure things out. 

Here’s a look at every angle of the situation. We’ll unpack the options on the roster and the trade market, whether DeCosta wants to go bargain shopping, big game hunting or something in the middle. If we do this well, Baltimore’s Week 1 starting center is going to be mentioned at some point in ensuing paragraphs. 

The Incumbents

The Ravens currently have four centers on the roster: 

• Pinter
• Jovaughn Gwyn
• Corey Bullock
• Nick Dawkins

Pinter is a former mid-round pick of the Colts who turns 30 in June. He has 10 starts and about 900 snaps under his belt. Pro Football Focus may have warts but there aren’t a lot of great ways to make apples-to-apples comparisons for offensive linemen outside of PFF grades. Pinter hasn’t had a season with enough snaps to qualify, but his grades have generally been pretty up and down. Last year he would have ranked 31st at the position. 

Gwyn was a seventh-round pick by the Falcons in 2023 who has played just 11 snaps on offense in his career, all of them coming last year. He’s a familiar face for new Ravens OL coach Dwayne Ledford, who held the role for the Falcons the last couple of seasons. 

Bullock landed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2024, spent the year on the practice squad, then worked his way up to the 53-man roster last year. He played 13 snaps all season, five of those as a jumbo tight end. 

Dawkins is an undrafted rookie this year out of Penn State and the least likely to be a factor, at least in 2026. He did make the cut as one of our UDFAs to watch in 2026, largely because of Baltimore’s need at the position, his size and how much Penn State’s coaching staff talked up his intangibles. 

A few teams are scraping the bottom of the barrel at center this year, but the Ravens might be at the absolute bottom. Of the four options on the roster, Pinter’s resume easily stands out, and even then he profiles more as a backup than a 17-game starter. Gwyn, Bullock and Dawkins might be best-suited for practice squad berths at this point in their respective careers, barring some sort of huge surprise improvement in training camp. It’s easy to see why DeCosta is looking at outside options. 

The Likeliest Contenders

Situations like these are when some of the other resources we provide at NFL Trade Rumors come very much in handy, like our 2026 NFL Trade Block that provides a position-by-position look at possible trade candidates around the league. There were a handful of centers mentioned, including:

Bears C Garrett Bradbury

While a deal is not necessarily imminent, multiple factors make Bradbury the logical frontrunner to watch for the Ravens in the coming months, even though the Bears just traded for him earlier this offseason. Chicago gave up a 2027 fifth-round pick to get Bradbury after being blindsided by the retirement of C Drew Dalman, one of the team’s centerpiece free agent additions a year prior. The Patriots were willing to move on because they had a young lineman waiting in the wings (2025 third-rounder Jared Wilson), but then the Bears were able to land their own center of the future in the second round by selecting Iowa’s Logan Jones. 

Ironically, Jones was one of the Ravens’ top targets in the draft, as he drew comparisons to Linderbaum due to his smaller build, play-style and also being a Hawkeye alum. The Bears loved him, too, and he’s expected to start sooner rather than later in Chicago, which would push Bradbury to the bench. 

Now there’s no law that says the Bears have to move on from Bradbury if that happens. Offensive line depth is always a good thing to have and Bradbury is on a reasonable $4.7 million cap hit. But the selection of Jones gives the Bears flexibility to possibly recoup or even improve on their investment, especially if he hits the ground running in training camp and they feel like they have other options to back him up. 

I have a hunch that the Ravens have a strong opinion of Bradbury internally. All of the centers discussed in this section — Linderbaum, Dalman, Bradbury and Jones — fit the same general archetype even if they slot in differently along the spectrum of talent. All four are around 6-3 and 300 pounds, which is just average to below average size for centers. But all four are smart and athletic, with the ability to get out on the move in blocking schemes that stretch defenses horizontally. 

New Ravens OC Declan Doyle arrived in Baltimore from Chicago after working under Bears HC Ben Johnson last season, so while he hasn’t coached Bradbury, he’s running a scheme that will be familiar to the one Bradbury has been learning this spring. Ledford, viewed as a rising star in the world of OL coaches, has worked directly with Bradbury in the past, serving as his position coach at N.C. State for three years. He also coached Dalman for the first four years of his career in Atlanta. 

Despite all of these connections pointing to a deal making sense for both parties, there are more hurdles that will need to be cleared before a trade can happen. It would not surprise me if the Bears asked for a fourth-round pick or more from the Ravens, seeking to improve upon the pick they gave up for Bradbury and leveraging the dire state of Baltimore’s roster. The Ravens won’t be in a rush to meet that asking price with how much they value mid-round picks. Look for things to stretch well into training camp as the Bears make sure Jones is ready and they get out of August healthy, while the Ravens evaluate whether the answer at center is already on the roster. 

Seahawks C Olu Oluwatimi

If the Ravens can’t make things work with the Bears to land Bradbury, they’ll need a fallback plan. Even if they do trade for Bradbury, more depth isn’t a bad thing. One potential option to watch is Oluwatimi, a fifth-round pick by the Seahawks back in 2023. He was the winner of the Rimington Trophy following the 2022 collegiate season at Michigan which is given to the nation’s best center. New Ravens HC Jesse Minter was the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines in 2022 and had a literal front-row seat to Oluwatimi’s season. 

Even though he wasn’t taken until the fifth, Seattle had high hopes for him winning a starting job at some point during his rookie contract. Oluwatimi has started 13 games over the past three years, but has failed to beat out multiple contenders. Journeyman Evan Brown held him off as a rookie, then the Seahawks brought in Connor Williams in August of 2024 to shore up the center spot. When Williams abruptly retired midseason, Oluwatimi started the final eight games. 

Oluwatimi finished with a 64.2 grade from PFF in 2024, No. 21 out of 43 players at center with enough qualifying snaps. It seemed like a decent step forward. However, he lost the starting job in training camp last year to Jalen Sundell, a 2024 UDFA out of North Dakota State. He still started a handful of games after Sundell was injured, but his PFF grade fell to 55.9, 35th out of 40 players. 

This year will be the final year of Oluwatimi’s rookie contract, and while he’s the only other true center on the roster who could back up Sundell, the Seahawks have a bit of a numbers crunch along the interior offensive line. With the Ravens needing help at center and having some familiarity with Oluwatimi from Minter, the ingredients are in place for a potential August trade. The Ravens would get help at center, and the Seahawks would get a pick for a player who’s unlikely to be in their future plans. 

Cardinals C Jon Gaines

This would be a slightly out-of-the-box solution for the Ravens to pursue, as the bulk of Gaines’ limited NFL experience has come at guard, not center. But he does have a few dozen snaps at the pivot and started games there in college as well, so it’s not the wildest projection to make. Gaines started the last five games of the season for the Cardinals at left guard, and while Arizona was just playing out the string, he had some strong flashes in those games. 

Gaines has been on the radar as a sleeper player for a few years now. There aren’t a lot of magic bullets in scouting but there tend to be a few numbers that correlate quite well to success in various positions. For offensive linemen, a stellar short shuttle time of 4.45 seconds or less does an even better job than draft capital at finding potential starters. Gaines checked off that box, and at 6-4 and 315 pounds, he’s got solid size for an interior lineman as well. 

That said, Gaines hasn’t taken off in Arizona. He missed his entire rookie season with an injury and his first start didn’t come until Week 14 of last season. If the Cardinals viewed him as a future starter or long-term solution, they probably wouldn’t have brought in both veteran Isaac Seumalo on a $31 million contract and second-round G Chase Bisontis. He’s also entering the final year of his rookie contract. 

The Cardinals feel like a team with eyes on 2027 more so than 2026, so a trade for Gaines feels like an attainable proposition for the Ravens. It would be a gamble given his small sample size but in terms of risk versus reward, it’s tough to find another potential trade with the same ratio of upside. 

The Dollar Store

These are bargain bin, low-cost alternatives that the Ravens could explore closer to cutdowns. If they did have to trade for any of these players, it probably wouldn’t involve more than a late-round pick or a pick swap. Some of these players could even be available on the waiver wire. 

Panthers C Nick Samac

Samac doesn’t have nearly as much experience or pedigree as some of the other options in this category. But he was actually drafted by Baltimore back in 2024 in the seventh round. He was let go during roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad before Carolina poached him in mid-September. He’s been on the roster ever since, though he hasn’t taken a snap on offense yet. 

At 6-4 and 315 pounds, Samac has good size for the position. He started 32 games at Michigan State and saw significant snaps in many of the 50 total games he played, rotating into the lineup. He entered the league as a better run blocker than pass blocker. 

Carolina added both free agent C Luke Fortner and fifth-round C Sam Hecht to the offensive line room this offseason, which might end up pushing Samac out since teams rarely carry three centers. If so, a reunion with Baltimore is definitely something to watch for, even if Samac profiles more as a depth option than a savior as the starter. 

Texans C Jarrett Patterson or Jake Andrews

Houston’s been trying to renovate its offensive line for a couple of seasons now and center is one of the positions they paid a lot of attention to this past draft. They took first-round G Keylan Rutledge and fourth-round G Febechi Nwaiwu, and while both were guards in college, both are getting work at center so far this offseason. It’s obvious the Texans want Rutledge to win the job and will give him every opportunity. 

That pushes Andrews to the bench after starting 16 games last year. The Texans claimed him off waivers from the Patriots last April and he still has one more year remaining on his fourth-round rookie contract. Patterson was a sixth-round pick that same year, the second center the Texans drafted after using a second-rounder on Juice Scruggs. But Houston traded Scruggs to the Lions as part of the deal for RB David Montgomery, and Patterson is on thin ice, too. 

Patterson has a little more positional flexibility than Andrews, who is probably just a center. But with a couple of guard-to-center converts, the Texans might actually value Andrews more as a backstop. Most of Patterson’s 21 career starts in his first three years came at center, and at minimum, he’d give the Ravens a more experienced option than their current depth chart. 

Bills OL Lloyd Cushenberry/Austin Corbett/Sedrick Van Pran-Granger

Buffalo’s set up an intensely competitive interior offensive line room, and it’s possible the players on the wrong side of the bubble during roster cutdowns will draw interest elsewhere. Cushenberry and Corbett were both signed during the third wave of free agency in late March. However, both have fully guaranteed base salaries, which suggests the Bills are relatively confident in both making the roster as at least depth options. At any rate, if the Ravens were really interested in either player, they could have easily signed them. 

The player who might actually be in the most jeopardy is Van Pran-Granger despite being a fifth-round pick just two years ago. He’s largely been a backup his first two seasons but the Bills have already signaled they weren’t happy with their depth. Van Pran-Granger is also a center-only player, as opposed to someone like Corbett and even Cushenberry who can play guard too. But as with the veterans, I’m not sure if the Ravens will view Van Pran-Granger as a fit for their scheme given his relative lack of mobility. 

Browns C Luke Wypler

A sixth-round pick in 2023 who missed the entire 2024 season with an injury, then started five games in 2025, Wypler was pushed to third on the depth chart by Cleveland’s other offseason additions. He is also a center-only player, which hurts his bid for a depth job. He’s probably more of an option to shore up the depth for the Ravens than step in as a legitimate starter, but he does fit the archetype they look for. More than likely, he’s a player Baltimore will keep tabs on as a potential waiver wire addition. 

Wishful Thinking?

So far we’ve mainly looked at affordable options. None of these players mentioned so far should (emphasis on should) cost the team more than a Day 3 pick to acquire. That would fit with how the team historically has done business, as the Ravens are one of the more value-conscious teams in the league. 

But what if they feel a little bit more pressure to maximize a Super Bowl window than usual this year? The Ravens have already made some big shakeups, firing former HC John Harbaugh and agreeing to a mammoth blockbuster trade for DE Maxx Crosby (even if they ultimately backed out of the deal). The team hasn’t advanced past the AFC championship game with QB Lamar Jackson and the two-time MVP turns 30 next January — which will also be just ahead of a contract year. 

A big trade for a center wouldn’t ordinarily seem like a Ravens move, but there are plenty of signs it’s not business as usual in Baltimore in 2026. Center is the Ravens’ biggest hole on a roster that otherwise could be right in the mix in the AFC, so what are the options if the Ravens want to trade for a bona fide starter? 

There are a few, although I’m not sure I’d term any of them as especially likely. 

Dolphins C Aaron Brewer

The cuts were deep in Miami this past offseason, with the Dolphins incurring an insane $170 million-plus in dead money to reset the roster under new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley. They were willing to move on from plenty of big-name players, most notoriously WR Jaylen Waddle, but it wasn’t a pure fire sale where everyone was available. The Dolphins drew the line at RB De’Von Achane and extended him instead of dealing him away. 

There are a few veteran players who remain on the roster but face a nebulous future as the reshaping of the team continues. Brewer is one of a handful of starters on expiring contracts and could conceivably draw trade interest at some point this year. Miami restructured his contract, which normally would indicate he’s in their plans in 2026. However, the Dolphins were in a position where they couldn’t just trade every veteran player; they needed to restructure a few to have enough cap space to operate. 

After June 1, the Dolphins wouldn’t lose cap space by trading Brewer, and depending on how the season goes, that could become a real consideration. He was outstanding last year and it flew under the radar because of Miami’s poor record. Brewer missed the Pro Bowl but he did get some love from the Associated Press and was named a second-team All-Pro. He’s quite small for a center at just 6-1 and sub-300 pounds, but in a wide zone rushing attack, his ability to get out and on the move made him quite effective. 

Ordinarily teams don’t want to trade All-Pro linemen, but Brewer turns 29 in October and is a pending free agent in 2027. The Dolphins actually lead the NFL in projected effective cap space for 2027 after cleaning up their books this year, but will they want to spend up to keep Brewer — an older and unconventional lineman? There’s a scenario where the Ravens could pry him out of Miami with a really strong offer, probably including at least a Day 2 pick. An extension would also likely have to be part of a trade, and Linderbaum has moved that market forward significantly. 

Centers aren’t usually the targets in these big premium pick and contract trades, but the Ravens are in a unique position. Brewer is a proven commodity who fits the scheme Baltimore is shifting to, and at minimum, the Dolphins are likely open to listening to offers. If the Ravens wanted a prime solution at center instead of a patch job, this is a deal they could pursue. 

Saints C Cesar Ruiz

Ahead of last season’s trade deadline, Ruiz came up in the rumor mill as the Saints explored their options with a few veteran players, given they were just 1-8. Ultimately they stood pat and the team went on a run to finish the year with some sizzle, but it’s worth keeping in mind when looking ahead to 2026. New Orleans might not be all that attached to keeping Ruiz, who has two years at $9.5 million apiece left on his deal. 

The Saints also didn’t restructure Ruiz this offseason, which is another potential hint they’re leaving the door open for a trade. If fourth-round G Jeremiah Wright hits the ground running, it’s not inconceivable that New Orleans could look to clear a spot for him by trading Ruiz and shedding salary in the process. 

For the Ravens, this could be an opportunity. Ruiz plays guard now but has the flexibility to slide over to center where he played in college and for a chunk of a couple seasons in the pros. He didn’t directly overlap with any current coaches, but as a Michigan alum who played for Jim Harbaugh, there should be no shortage of familiarity. 

Raiders C Jackson Powers-Johnson OR Jordan Meredith

The Raiders took Powers-Johnson in the second round in 2024 with the anticipation that he’d be their long-term center, which is the spot Powers-Johnson identifies most strongly with. However, it has not gone as smoothly as either the team or the player expected. Powers-Johnson is now on his third different coaching staff and second front office since being selected. He missed over half of last season with an ankle injury, and when he has been on the field he’s played twice as much guard as he has center. Powers-Johnson has also been put in some competitions that have limited his time on the field.

Competition isn’t a bad thing, of course, but it’s notable when an offensive lineman with Powers-Johnson’s draft capital isn’t a fixture in the lineup. Once again he’s not being promised a starting position for new HC Klint Kubiak, though he certainly “should” be a frontrunner at guard. The vibes have just been off between him and the Raiders, and he’s quietly bubbled up in trade rumors as other teams have tested the waters. In terms of potential big trade options at center, Powers-Johnson definitely ranks near the top of the list. 

However, we must address the elephant in the room here. At some point, the Ravens and Raiders will do business together again after the failed Crosby trade. But this year feels like it might be too soon. Even if the Raiders are willing to part with Powers-Johnson, I don’t think they have any interest in helping the Ravens out of a jam after the fakeout they were put through this March. 

I think you could extend that to Meredith, too, who has been pushed to the backup role by Las Vegas’ addition of Linderbaum. The Raiders would probably be very open to shedding Meredith’s $3.5 million salary as a restricted free agent. I very much doubt they want to trade him to the Ravens.