Center has been a position of strength and stability for the Ravens after drafting Tyler Linderbaum in the first round in 2022. Linderbaum only missed two games and made three Pro Bowls during his four sessions in Baltimore.
After Linderbaum signed a game-changing deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, who would replace him was one of the biggest questions for the Ravens.
First-round pick Vega Ioane, who was drafted to be a plug-and-play starter at right guard, wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card to be the one to throw the ball to Lamar Jackson, and yet here we are.
Ioane was forced into emergency duty at center in Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro after the Ravens lost Jovaughn Gwyn (ankle) and Ethan Pocic (knee) to long-term injuries. The Ravens’ bad luck at center began in August when projected Week 1 starter Danny Pinter suffered a season-ending torn patella tendon.
Head coach Jesse Minter said Ioane will be ready to start at center when the Ravens host the Tennessee Titans this Sunday, but without a center on the practice squad, the team needs to find a long-term starter and address the lack of depth at the position.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec said the situation was at a critical point.
“Playing Ioane at center is not an ideal long-term solution because of what the Ravens lose by not having him at right guard,” Zrebiec wrote. “However, finding outside help is complicated by the fact that a number of teams are dealing with injuries at center, so there is not much available on the free agent market.”
Zrebiec named James Daniels, Graham Glasgow, Andre James and Nick Harris as potential free agent options.
“These guys haven’t been on teams the last few months, so they would probably need an extended ramp-up before they’re ready to play,” Zrebiec wrote. “The Ravens probably need more immediate help.
“The Ravens will likely look at other teams and practice squads, as well as available free agents, to see if they can find a decent center at an affordable price. They also have the option to commit to Ioane at center for the foreseeable future and simply add a starter-caliber guard to join Andrew Vorhees and Emery Jones Jr. as potential replacements at right guard.”
Zrebiec identified Chicago Bears center Garrett Bradbury as an “intriguing potential trade option.”
“The Ravens inquired about Bradbury, who played under offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford at North Carolina State, after the Bears used a second-round pick on Iowa center Logan Jones in the 2026 NFL Draft,” Zrebiec wrote. “The Bears, however, did not want to give up their offensive line depth, so the Ravens turned to Pocic. It is unclear if Chicago’s position has changed.”
Bradbury, 31, has taken every snap this season. Jones played exclusively on special teams.
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