Examining Ravens’ OL Roster Outlook
With today’s signing of center Ethan Pocic, the Ravens’ offensive line is starting to fall into place. With Pocic favored to secure the team’s starting center job, the rest of the starting five and backup spots can be projected as training camp nears.
Assuming Pocic can beat out Danny Pinter, Corey Bullock, and Jovaughn Gwyn to start in the middle, he’ll join returning starting tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten on the first-team offense. The guard spots are expected to go to free agent addition John Simpson, who returns to Baltimore after two seasons in New York, and rookie first-round pick Olaivavega Ioane. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the team’s third- and fifth-round picks from 2025, Emery Jones Jr. and Carson Vinson, are Baltimore’s top backup tackle options.
Assuming they’re locked into roster spots alongside the starting group, Zrebiec predicts that only two or three spots would be left on the eventual 53-man roster. Pinter, Bullock, Gwyn, and undrafted rookie Nick Dawkins represent depth options for a necessary backup center spot; last year’s starter at left guard Andrew Vorhees, 2025 UDFA Jared Penning, and seventh-round rookie Evan Beerntsen will compete as options at guard; and undrafted rookie Diego Pounds adds another tackle option.
Vorhees and Pinter seem like obvious keeps for the interior line, given their starting experience. Vorhees graded out last year as the 59th-best guard in the league (out of 79 players graded at the position), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and Pinter only has 10 starts in six years, but both likely would have been in line for starting jobs had Simpson and Pocic not arrived in free agency. The staff in Baltimore has shown a lot of faith in Bullock’s potential since signing the undrafted lineman last year, so if they plan on holding 10, he could be the last guy.
That would leave Pounds, Penning, Beerntsen, Gwyn, and Dawkins on the outside looking in. It wouldn’t be too surprising for Pounds and Dawkins to fall short as undrafted rookies, and Penning spent his rookie year on the practice squad and could find his way back in Year 2. Gwyn was a low-cost swing at interior OL depth, so his loss wouldn’t be too hard to swallow. If the team waives Beerntsen, it would be the second year in a row that Baltimore drafted a seventh-round lineman who failed to make the initial 53.
Training camp is a week away, and there’s still plenty of time for some of those last few players to make something happen. But after today’s key signing, the picture of the Ravens’ offensive line is starting to come into focus.
Danny Pinter Remains Ravens’ Top Internal Option At Center
Tyler Linderbaum left a $27MM per year hole on the Ravens’ offensive depth chart when he departed for Las Vegas in free agency. The team signed a few underwhelming replacement options soon after Linderbaum’s departure, and when the draft came and went without the selection of a rookie center, many presumed an additional outside option was on its way to Baltimore.
As the Ravens progressed through spring activities, former Colts backup Danny Pinter was the center receiving first-year snaps with the most consistency in Baltimore. Over five healthy years in Indianapolis, Pinter appeared in 77 games, serving mostly on special teams but earning 10 starts as an injury replacement — seven at center and three at right guard. That experience exceeds that of both of the team’s other two center options, Jovaughn Gwyn and Corey Bullock.
Gwyn is a former seventh-round guard out of South Carolina that was drafted by the Falcons in 2023. He only appeared in two games over his first two years in the league and didn’t appear on offense until this past season, seeing at least one snap at guard in five games. He didn’t play center in college, but he’s been identified as a candidate for the job in Baltimore. Bullock made the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie out of Maryland last year. He appeared in 16 games for the team last year, almost exclusively on special teams. There was an expectation that he might step into a bigger role in Year 2, but he hasn’t been able to establish a bigger role yet.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic recently reported that, while he still holds his belief that an external addition will occur at some point in the offseason, if it doesn’t, Pinter will likely be given the starting job. If the Ravens do go the trade route to replace Linderbaum, Zrebiec projects that Bears center Garrett Bradbury could be an ideal target. A starter for six years in Minnesota and last year in New England, Bradbury played under new Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford when the two were at NC State together. Chicago drafted Iowa center Logan Jones in the second round of the draft this year, perhaps making Bradbury expendable.
Early Lead For Danny Pinter In Ravens’ C Battle?
As Baltimore prepared to take on the contracts of both Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson before ultimately reneging on Crosby’s trade agreement, the Ravens were forced to let several starters walk in free agency.
The biggest surprise came when Tyler Linderbaum — the team’s starting center who made the Pro Bowl three times over his four-year rookie deal — signed a record contract sending him to Las Vegas. Linderbaum’s successor has not officially been named, but free agent addition Danny Pinter appears to getting the first-team reps early on, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic..
There’s a decent chance that the Ravens wouldn’t have been able to retain Linderbaum even if the Crosby situation hadn’t been a distraction. Linderbaum’s new deal raised the ceiling for center contracts by 50 percent, topping Creed Humphrey‘s $18MM annual average by $9MM. Absent their starting center of the past four seasons, Baltimore has been tasked with finding a replacement. In the days after Linderbaum’s departure, the team brought in Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn on free agent deals.
Pinter has been a backup interior offensive lineman in Indianapolis since 2020, when the Colts drafted him in the fifth round out of Ball State. Over five seasons with the team — he missed the entire 2023 season on injured reserve — he appeared in 77 games, serving mostly on special teams. He did get some action as an injury replacement, making 10 starts over that period — seven at center and three at right guard. In the opportunities provided to him, Pinter has generally shown strong run blocking abilities but struggles in pass pro.
Gwyn is a former seventh-round guard out of South Carolina that was drafted by the Falcons in 2023. He only appeared in two games over his first two years in the league and didn’t appear on offense until this past season, seeing at least one snap at guard in five games. He didn’t play center in college, but he’s been identified as a candidate for the job in Baltimore.
There was an expectation the Ravens would address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft as a number of prospects at the position were expected to go on Day 2. Ultimately, even when several of those top prospects at the position fell to Day 3, Baltimore never seemed to find enough value to draft one when its picks came around. There’s been speculation that the team could still pursue a veteran free agent at the position with options like Ethan Pocic, Sam Mustipher, and Andre James available, but nothing has moved on that front lately. The Ravens also roster Corey Bullock, who made their roster as an undrafted rookie last year and appears to be in consideration, as well.
Per Zrebiec, new head coach Jesse Minter claims that “Pinter has done a great job” but that they still “might rotate first-team center reps in Organized Team Activities. Unless the team does, in fact, make an outside addition soon, it appears Pinter has an inside track to his first full-time starting job in Year 7 of his career, though he’ll be challenged by the seventh-rounder, Gwyn, and the undrafted Bullock.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/13/26
Here are Friday’s minor NFL moves as free agency continues into the weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: WR Simi Fehoko
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: G Corey Bullock
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: LB Claudin Cherelus
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: CB Jaylon Jones
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: CB D’Angelo Ross
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: TE Princeton Fant
Denver Broncos
- Signed RFA tender: CB Ja’Quan McMillian
Houston Texans
- Waived: DT Kurt Hinish
Miami Dolphins
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Ethan Bonner
- Signed: P Seth Vernon
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: C Zeke Correll
New York Giants
- Signed: S Elijah Campbell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: TE Ko Kieft
After making the call not to tender him as a restricted free agent, the Panthers were able to come to an agreement to re-sign Cherelus. The undrafted linebacker has started six of 27 game appearances in his last two years with Carolina, logging 60 total tackles.
Unlike Cherelus, McMillian did get tendered in Denver. With 16 starts in 51 games appearances over four years with the Broncos, McMillian’s tender is worth $5.77MM for the 2026 season, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.
The Texans signed Hinish to a one-year deal last year, but the Notre Dame product spent the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Instead of holding on to him for the upcoming season, they’ve decided to cut him from the roster.
Andrew Vorhees Favorite To Be Ravens LG
The Ravens don’t have much lineup uncertainty at the moment, meaning the lone positional battle has been thrust into the limelight. With Patrick Mekari departing this offseason, there remains an opening at left guard, with coach John Harbaugh recently stating that he’d like to settle on a starter as soon as possible.
Harbaugh also provided some insight into which way he’s leaning, as the coach revealed that Andrew Vorhees remains the front-runner for the starting LG job over Ben Cleveland.
“Andrew Vorhees is in the lead. Something would have to change,” Harbaugh said (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). “I will say, with Ben, he’ll tell you, the first, three or four days didn’t look too good. Then, the next three or four days looked really good. … Andrew has looked good all the way through, so he’s in the lead at this point.”
Vorhees was penciled in as the starter to begin the 2024 campaign. However, an ankle injury temporarily knocked him out of the lineup, and by the time he was ready to return, Mekari had already run away with the job. Vorhees, a 2023 seventh-round pick, will now have another clear shot at sticking in the starting lineup, although Cleveland does provide some competition should things go off the rails. Per Zrebiec, Cleveland will likely be slotted in as the team’s top reserve OG to begin the season, with Joseph Noteboom likely the favorite to be the top OT reserve and former UDFA Corey Bullock the favorite to be the backup center.
While there aren’t many starting spots up for grabs in Baltimore, there are plenty of roster battles. One of those competitions is believed to be at outside linebacker, where the Ravens appear to have one too many players. Zrebiec writes that Adisa Isaac is expected to win the final positional spot, meaning David Ojabo is likely going to be the odd man out. A former second-round pick, Ojabo has struggled to carve out a role during his three years in Baltimore, and with only a year remaining on his rookie pact, the organization may finally be willing to move on.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/21/25
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Atlanta Falcons
- WR David Sills
Baltimore Ravens
- OT Corey Bullock, WR Malik Cunningham, G Darrian Dalcourt, LB William Kwenkeu, QB Devin Leary, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DE Adedayo Odeleye, DT C.J. Okoye, DE C.J. Ravenell, WR Dayton Wade
Carolina Panthers
- LB Carlos Basham, TE James Mitchell
Detroit Lions
- WR Ronnie Bell
Philadelphia Eagles
- TE Cameron Latu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Cameron McCutcheon
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DE Adam Gotsis, P Jake Julien
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
Baltimore Ravens
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Corey Bullock, RB Chris Collier, CB Bump Cooper Jr., WR Malik Cunningham, G Darrian Dalcourt, OLB Joe Evans, CB Ka’dar Hollman, TE Qadir Ismail, RB John Kelly, WR Keith Kirkwood, QB Devin Leary, WR Anthony Miller, DE C.J. Ravenell, ILB Josh Ross, WR Dayton Wade
Cincinnati Bengals
Signed:
Claimed:
- DE K.J. Henry
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Nate Brooks, WR Cole Burgess, T Devin Cochran, DT Domenique Davis, CB Jalen Davis, TE Cam Grandy, LB Shaka Heyward, C Trey Hill, WR Shedrick Jackson, S PJ Jules, WR Kendric Pryor, QB Logan Woodside
Cleveland Browns
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Jowon Briggs, CB Tony Brown, WR Jaelon Darden, S Christopher Edmonds, CB Mike Ford, CB Justin Hardee, T Germain Ifedi, T Sam Kamara, T Roy Mbaeteka, WR James Proche, LB Winston Reid, LS Rex Sunahara, T Lorenzo Thompson, WR Michael Woods
Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Anthony Averett, RB Boston Scott
Ravens Let Go Of WRs Malik Cunningham, Anthony Miller On Way To 53
The Ravens have gotten down to the required 53-man roster. Here’s how they did it:
Released:
- CB Ka’dar Hollman
- RB John Kelly
- WR Keith Kirkwood
- WR Anthony Miller
- S Daryl Worley
Waived:
- T Corey Bullock
- RB Chris Collier
- CB Bump Cooper Jr.
- WR Malik Cunningham
- G Darrian Dalcourt
- OLB Joe Evans
- TE Qadir Ismail
- QB Emory Jones
- QB Devin Leary
- G Tashawn Manning
- T Julian Pearl
- DE C.J. Ravenell
- LB Yvandy Rigby
- LB Josh Ross
- WR Dayton Wade
- CB Damarion Williams
Waived/injured:
- NT Deadrin Senat
- DT Josh Tupou
Placed on IR:
- LB Deion Jennings
- CB Christian Matthew
- CB Trayvon Mullen
- WR Isaiah Washington
- RB Owen Wright
Placed on IR (designated for return):
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Baltimore will be without the veteran Maulet or electric Mitchell for at least four games to start the season. The other injured reserve placements, which includes two undrafted free agent signings, will miss the entire 2024 season.
For the second year in a row, the Ravens showed questionable draft decision-making as a draft pick from the current year failed to make the 53-man roster. Last year saw fifth-round cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly get waived, while this year sees sixth-round Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary get the early axe. Such occurrences were not common under former general manager Ozzie Newsome, and Ravens fans will hope that Eric DeCosta doesn’t make a habit out of wasting draft picks.
On the other hand, DeCosta continued a usual trend of analytical excellence as the Ravens continued what has become a tradition of seeing at least one undrafted rookie make the initial 53-man roster. This year, the honor goes to Maryland safety Beau Brade. Baltimore chose to enlist the young prospective talent of Brade over retaining the veteran experience of Worley, who has seen some decent time on the Ravens defense in recent years.
Ravens Add 22 UDFAs
The Ravens made nine selections over the course of the weekend, but that still left plenty of room for post-draft additions. That has paved the way for a large UDFA class. Here are the 22 players Baltimore has agreed to terms with:
- Jelani Baker, WR (Limestone)
- Beau Brade, S (Maryland)
- Corey Bullock, G (Maryland)
- Tre’Darious Colbert, DT (Maryland)
- Chris Collier, RB (Lock Haven)
- Ryan Cooper, DB (Oregon State)
- Darrian Dalcourt, G (Alabama)
- Joe Evans, DE (Iowa)
- Ja’Mion Franklin, DT (Duke)
- De’Angelo Hardy, WR (North Central)
- Deion Jennings, LB (Rutgers)
- Julian Pearl, T (Illinois)
- Randen Plattner, LS (Kansas State)
- Yvandy Rigby, LB (Temple)
- Mike Rigerman, TE (Findlay)
- Tayvion Robinson, WR (Kentucky)
- Riley Sharp, TE (Oregon State)
- Darrell Simpson, T (Tulsa)
- Jordan Toles, DB (Morgan State)
- Dayton Wade, WR (Ole Miss)
- Tramel Walthour, DT (Georgia)
- Isaiah Washington, WR (Rutgers)
It came as something of a surprise when Brade did not hear his name called on Day 3. The senior earned an Honorable All-Big Ten nod in each of the past two seasons, leading the Terrapins in tackles both years. Brade racked up 177 stops, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups across his four seasons in college. The Clarksville, Maryland native will be able to begin his pro career with his hometown team if he makes the Ravens’ opening roster.
Baltimore added a vertical threat (fourth-rounder Devontez Walker) to the passing game during the draft, but two of the team’s undrafted wideouts will receive a look in part based on their size. Hardy (6-2) and Washington (6-3) each have a larger frame than that of the Ravens’ current receiver options. The former owns the school record for career touchdowns with 58, 20 of which were scored last season. The latter, meanwhile, put up much smaller production (74 receptions, 927 yards and five seasons). Both will look to earn a depth roster spot or a place on the practice squad.
By not drafting a linebacker, the Ravens all-but assured Trenton Simpson of a starting role in 2024. That place was opened up by Patrick Queen‘s free agent departure, and the team’s other options are in line for special teams duties. The faith shown in Simpson is further illustrated by the fact Baltimore’s UDFA class only contains two linebackers. Both Rigby (who posted 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022) and Jones (who eclipsed 90 stops in each of the past two seasons) will look to carve out a spot based on third phase capabilities at a minimum.