Looking at the Ravens’ center options after the 2026 NFL Draft
The Ravens surprised many by not selecting a center in the 2026 NFL Draft. What are their options at the position?
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 07: Lamar Jackson #8 and Corey Bullock #67 of the Baltimore Ravens interact before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Ravens entered the draft with multiple needs to address, but perhaps none more glaring than the interior offensive line. Selecting Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with the No.
14 overall pick after previously signing veteran guard John Simpson in free agency put the interior in a much stronger position on paper, but one glaring question remained: Who would play center? Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta admitted the original plan was to draft a center, but that their preferred targets came off the board before they could pick them. The Ravens instead chose to ignore the position for the remainder of the draft in favor of sticking to their board.
“I do think we’ll have a plan at the position, I feel confident in saying that,” DeCosta said . “I think we have a couple guys here that will compete for that position. But as the Hall of Fame General Manager [Ozzie Newsome] once said, ‘You don’t play games until September.
’ And I think we’ll have a great offensive line at that point. ” Baltimore said goodbye to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum earlier this offseason when he signed a market-setting three-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. The expectation was that the Ravens would either sign a cheaper veteran option or select a center early in the draft to replace Linderbaum, but general manager DeCosta did neither.