While the Ravens shored up the interior of their offensive line this offseason by adding John Simpson in free agency and selecting Vega Ioane in the first round of the draft, there is a glaring hole at the center position. Tyler Linderbaum, who manned the pivot for Baltimore for the last four years (earning Pro Bowl acclaim in each of the last three), signed a record-setting deal with the Raiders in March, and the Ravens are still seeking an adequate replacement.
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley details, general manager Eric DeCosta said the two center prospects in the 2026 draft class he believed could make an immediate impact were taken in the second round, which he considered a surprise. Presumably, he is referring to Logan Jones, who went to the Bears with the No. 57 pick, and Jake Slaughter, whom the Chargers selected with the No. 63 choice. With his own second-round pick, DeCosta opted to bolster his pass rush (Zion Young, No. 45 overall), and by the time the Ravens were back on the clock at No. 80, Jones and Slaughter were long gone.
DeCosta acknowledged during an interview on WBAL (via Hensley) that the center position remains in a state of flux, though he indicated he could address that need via trade. Of course, he did not name possible trade targets, though players like Chicago’s Garrett Bradbury or Miami’s Aaron Brewer could speculatively fit the bill.
The Bears just acquired Bradbury via trade this offseason but then drafted Jones. The Dolphins restructured Brewer’s deal in order to absorb the dead money created by the Jaylen Waddle trade and have expressed an interest in extending the snapper, a 2025 second-team All-Pro. Still, the ‘Fins are rebuilding, and after the club’s new regime traded a former cornerstone in Waddle, moving a contract-year player like Brewer who appears poised to cash in thanks in part to Linderbaum’s mega-deal could make sense.
Players like Graham Glasgow, Ethan Pocic, and Ryan Bates are still free agents, and the Ravens will presumably continue to evaluate Corey Bullock, a 2024 UDFA who took extensive reps at center last summer and who is currently penciled in atop the center depth chart. Baltimore also signed Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn this offseason, but neither of those players presently profiles as a viable starting option for a club with championship aspirations.
Unless somebody knows something I don’t know why would the Bears trade Bradbury just because they drafted Jones? I know they say Newman could maybe play some C but I’ve never seen him do it. I still don’t know why Dalman retired whether it was injury or maybe he wasn’t all that happy with the contract he just signed last year? I never heard him complain so it’s a mystery. Pretty sure the Bears would love him back next year as Bradbury is only signed thru this year but maybe they trade him? The whole thing is just strange. Dalman and Jones would be better than Bradbury and Jones.
“ I still don’t know why Dalman retired whether it was injury or maybe he wasn’t all that happy with the contract he just signed last year?”
Or he decided to walk away with approximately 25 mill earned (maybe 10 mill or more after taxes cash) at age 27 with his health in tact
No amount of money can undo the toll playing in the NFL has on people’s bodies especially CTE
Hey there’s nothing wrong with that. But if that’s what it was why the radio silence? Why not just say so? There is a story here and I’m surprised the Bears aren’t talking, Dalman isn’t talking, Nobody is talking. I think the Bears are taking a we’re not going to antagonize him attitude and letting him be hoping he changes his mind. An if it was an injury how did he play every snap last year? I hate cloak and dagger and the Bears have 2 now. Zah Frazier is another. After being drafted he never even showed up for camp for some mystery reason. Somebody needs to find out what’s what.
The reports all said Dalman retired because he didn’t want to further risk his long-term health, and he felt like he’d made enough money to walk away.
The Bears traded for Bradbury because they had no center. They then used a top60 pick on a center, and if they believe Jones can start on Day 1 (as his draft position would suggest is possible), then. Bradbury is just a high-end backup. If Baltimore wants to either help the Bears recoup a 2027 5th rd pick for Bradbury or they want to give the Bears a serviceable DE that fell out of their rotation post-Hendrickson signing, then there’s little reason for the Bears to hang on to him.
Other than Jones getting injured you mean? LMAO