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Baltimore Ravens general manaher Eric DeCosta (right), new head coach Jesse Minter (center), and team president Sashi Brown (left) during Minter's Introductory interview on January 29, 2026

Once again, the Baltimore Ravens had a pretty good 2026 NFL Draft. The Ravens are known for drafting well, but there’s a certain decision that’s not sitting well with some fans.

This decision was the Baltimore Ravens not taking a chance on drafting a center after Tyler Linderbaum’s departure. Some would say it was one of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest needs.

“One of the Ravens’ biggest needs entering the draft was at center following the departure of Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. By the end of the three days, the Ravens came away with 11 new rookies but zero true centers.” Ryan Mink wrote in a Baltimore Ravens article.

Eric DeCosta Reveals Why He Didn’t Draft a Center

DeCosta revealed that it was ‘unfortunate’ the team did not draft a center, but he is confident they will have the position figured out by the time the 2026 season starts.

“DeCosta said there were two centers they “really liked” who both went in the second round after the Ravens picked outside linebacker Zion Young, a first-round talent, at pick No. 45.” Mink wrote.

“At pick No. 57 in the second round, the Chicago Bears selected center Logan Jones, the 2025 Rimington Trophy Winner, who replaced Linderbaum at Iowa. At pick No. 63 in the second round, the Los Angeles Chargers selected center Jake Slaughter out of Florida.” Mink added. “Baltimore wasn’t on the clock again until pick No. 80 in the third round. DeCosta said the Ravens “really assessed” whether it was worth it to trade up, but it would have cost them a third, fourth, and fifth-round pick to do so.”

DeCosta added that he most likely would not do anything differently considering the level of players the Ravens drafted. Some of these players include OL Olaivavega Ioane, EDGE Zion Young, and Wide Receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt.

“Probably prohibitive for us to get up that high in the draft,” DeCosta said during the Post-Draft Press Conference. “Would I rather have Ja’Kobi [Lane], [Elijah] Sarratt, and [Matt] Hibner? I probably would than one player at that point. … Honestly, like looking at this list of [our drafted] players, I probably wouldn’t do anything differently.”

Ravens Signed Center in Offseason

The Baltimore Ravens signed Center Danny Pinter in March. Pinter last played for the Indianapolis Colts. Pinter was an All-MAC selection at Ball State in 2019 and a 5th round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

“In 2024, Pinter appeared in 14 games and started at center in Weeks 13 and 15, earning a career-high 82.9 Pro Football Focus overall grade as a starter in the Colts’ Week 13 win over the New England Patriots.” Glenn Erby wrote in a Ravens Wire article.

In 2025, Pinter played just 139 snaps in a backup role, earning a 56.5 PFF grade in six appearances last season. The Ravens may not have thought it was priority to sign a center after signing Pinter.

“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.”