The Baltimore Ravens’ starting center job remains one of the most important unresolved questions on the roster, but the cleanest answer entering training camp is Danny Pinter. That does not mean the competition is over. Baltimore has not named a starter, and head coach Jesse Minter indicated during minicamp that the battle was fairly even between Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn, with the real evaluation coming once pads go on in training camp. Corey Bullock also remains part of the broader picture, although his path became more complicated after Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker noted that Bullock had offseason surgery, according to Bullock’s social media. Wacker previously reported that Bullock had been dealing with an issue during the offseason program.
Pinter should be viewed as the early favorite because of experience and roster logic. The Ravens signed the former Colts interior lineman in free agency after losing Tyler Linderbaum, giving Baltimore a veteran option with center flexibility and NFL experience. Pinter’s one-year deal was reported at $2.25 million with incentives that could take it to $2.75 million, a modest but meaningful investment for a team trying to stabilize one of the most important positions on the offensive line.
Gwyn is the most athletic challenger. The former seventh-round pick brings interior versatility and has been directly involved in the competition. If he wins the job, it would likely be because he proves to be the better mover, communicator, and run-game fit once the Ravens get into padded work. Baltimore’s offense requires more from the center than simply snapping the ball. The position controls protection communication, helps set the timing of the run game, and must build immediate trust with Lamar Jackson.
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Bullock’s situation is more complicated. Before the surgery news, he had a chance to push for the job or at least remain in the mix as a developmental interior lineman. Now, his availability and the roster battle are questions. For a young player trying to win a starting job, missing offseason reps matters. For a player trying to secure a roster spot, it matters even more.
This competition matters because Linderbaum’s departure changed the structure of Baltimore’s offensive line. The Ravens are also breaking in a new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, and the center will have to help the offense operate cleanly as Jackson adjusts to a new voice, new terminology, and a potentially different rhythm. Derrick Henry’s presence also raises the stakes. Baltimore’s run game is built on timing, power, and precision, and the center will be central to making those concepts work.
The most likely outcome is Pinter starting Week 1, with Gwyn pushing him through camp and Bullock trying to get healthy enough to remain part of the roster conversation. The Ravens do not need their new center to be Linderbaum immediately. They need him to be steady, available, and trusted by Jackson. Until someone clearly separates, this remains one of Baltimore’s most important camp battles. But if the question is who should be considered the early favorite, the answer is Pinter.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Who will start at the center position for the Ravens in 2026?
