Ravens Must Find Veteran Center After Signing Trey Hendrickson

Baltimore's offseason moves have been aggressive, but a key hole remains on the offensive line.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:40am

The Baltimore Ravens made a splash by signing star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a massive four-year, $112 million deal in 2026 NFL free agency. However, the team still has a glaring need to address at center after losing Tyler Linderbaum to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Ravens' offensive line was a weakness in 2025, and they cannot afford to repeat those issues with Lamar Jackson's health and championship aspirations on the line. Baltimore must prioritize finding a veteran center to stabilize the interior of their offensive line before the 2026 season begins.

Why it matters

The Ravens are in a 'Super Bowl or bust' window after making aggressive moves to upgrade their roster, including the Hendrickson signing. But the team's championship hopes hinge on shoring up the offensive line, especially at the critical center position. Inconsistent line play plagued the Ravens in 2025, leading to Jackson's injury, and they cannot afford a repeat of those issues.

The details

The Ravens lost starting center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency, leaving a major void in the middle of their offensive line. While they have internal options like Corey Bullock, betting the season on an unproven player at such a cerebral position is risky. Baltimore has the cap flexibility to pursue a veteran center via trade or free agency, but time is running out before the 2026 season begins.

  • The Ravens entered the 2026 free agency period with a clear mandate to fix their pass rush and stabilize their offensive line.
  • On the first day of free agency, the Ravens saw a mass exodus of key contributors, including the loss of Linderbaum to the Raiders.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching, but the Ravens are wary of gambling on a rookie center with their championship aspirations.

The players

Trey Hendrickson

A star pass rusher who the Ravens signed to a four-year, $112 million deal in 2026 free agency.

Lamar Jackson

The Ravens' star quarterback whose health and championship aspirations are at stake if the team cannot shore up their offensive line.

Tyler Linderbaum

The Ravens' former starting center who left the team in free agency to join the Las Vegas Raiders.

Corey Bullock

An internal option the Ravens are considering to replace Linderbaum at center.

John Harbaugh

The former Ravens head coach whose legendary tenure came to a stunning end after the team's 8-9 season in 2025.

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What’s next

The Ravens have the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, where they could look at center prospects like Connor Lew or Jake Slaughter. However, the team is wary of gambling on a rookie at such a critical position given their Super Bowl aspirations.

The takeaway

The Ravens have made aggressive moves this offseason, including the blockbuster signing of Trey Hendrickson. But their championship hopes hinge on addressing a glaring hole at center on the offensive line. Failing to find a veteran replacement for Tyler Linderbaum could jeopardize Lamar Jackson's health and the team's title chances in 2026.