Ravens Expect Center Competition to Go Down to the Wire

The Baltimore Ravens recently brought in center Ethan Pocic, who figured to be the runaway choice for the starting position. However, that is not the case.

Head coach Jesse Minte stated that the center position will be a big competition, and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford revealed that competition will come down to the wire.

Read more: Ravens' Jesse Minter Confirms Center Will Still be Competition

During media availability, Ledford indicated that the result of the center competition is unlikely to be decided until a week before the start of the regular season.

"Yeah, you know, I think it's going to be something that's going to take all of training camp. It'll come down to probably that last week when we're going into it. Because I think all three of them are doing a really good job with it. We want to make sure that we're diligent and giving everybody the opportunity that's here with it because they're here for a reason and just make sure we get the right guy that we want in there with that first group," Ledford said. 

Ledford indicated that Pocic, Danny Pinter, and Jovaughn Gwyn are the leaders in the center competition thus far. 

As stated, Pocic was recently signed. Following his torn Achilles in 2025, the former Cleveland Browns starter was cleared for football activities, and the Ravens were quick to bring him in.

Pinter and Gwyn were two of the bigger offensive line acquisitions during the free agency period. Gwyn has never started at center, but has been showing the kind of skills from guard who transition to the middle of the line.

Pinter had 10 starts with the Indianapolis Colts, but is not as experienced as Pocic, who has 97 starts at center.

Regardless, all three appear to be on equal footing, and Ledford stated as such. 

"Danny, Jovaughn, and Ethan- all of them- they bring a little bit different on each one of them. And the thing is what we're trying to do is that guy's got to take control of the offense. It starts with the operation with that guy," Ledford said.

Another player who has yet to get in on the center competition is Corey Bullock. Bullock was the direct backup to Tyler Linderbaum in 2025, but he has not participated much through OTAs, minicamp, and now training camp.

Bullock remains on the NFI (non-football injury) list. However, once he returns healthy, he may be in the running for the position.

Teams need a starting center due to the player being the first contact on the line, and that is especially true for the Ravens. 

Read more: Ravens' Dwayne Ledford Sets Huge Goal for Offensive Line

Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle plans to use Lamar Jackson in a more traditional way of hiking the ball directly from the center. This means that the player must be strong in their assignments to give Jackson the time to make a play.

The silver lining of Baltimore having a center competition deep into training camp is that the play that Minter chooses should be the best among the group vying for the spot, and this will lead to quality backups should something happen injury-wise. 

It will be interesting to see who pulls ahead as training camp gets well underway.