A recent history of trades offers a clear price range for the Baltimore Ravens in their search for a starting center
If the Baltimore Ravens are going to make a move at center, the going rate is pretty well established.
The Baltimore Ravens‘ offseason still has some business to attend to. The likelihood of getting a Lamar Jackson contract extension done feels to dwindle further by the day, but that just shifts the focus to protecting Jackson as much as possible.
Cue the center position. Jackson will be playing this season without Tyler Linderbaum, who flew off to Las Vegas this spring to the tune of $27 million annually in free agency. Hard to blame him. But where the Ravens find themselves now is sorely needing to find a dance partner to onboard a replacement — because the in-house options are limited. The good news is the going rate for a center on the trade market is pretty well established.
A recent history of center trades paints a clear picture for the Baltimore Ravens
Look back through recent history and you’ll find the going rate for a center trade is fairly consistent. Veteran Garrett Bradbury was traded from New England to Chicago this offseason for a future 5th-round draft selection. In 2024, the Buffalo Bills traded a 5th-round draft selection to Chicago for Ryan Bates. We’ve seen Mason Cole and Dan Feeney traded for 6th round draft choices in recent years, as well.
So unless the Baltimore Ravens want to really upset the establishment, finding a sufficient level starter at center will like run the Ravens at the cost of a 5th-round draft selection, most likely one in 2027. If they wanted to go with a lower ceiling guard/center flex player, perhaps they could sneak a deal out for a 6th-round pick.
The question the Ravens have to ask themselves is how hard they want to swing the bat. There are bigger fish to try to land if Baltimore aspires to make a splash. But the team currently does not have a surplus in 2027 draft capital. Baltimore does, however, project to receive compensatory picks next spring for losing names like Charlie Kolar, Isaiah Likely, and Dre’Mont Jones in free agency. Those pick projections? You guessed it — fifth and sixth rounders.
The catch for the Ravens in getting those pick reinforcements if you can’t trade compensatory picks before they’re awarded. Which means that the Ravens are, for now, limited to their own 5th-round pick to work with. Unless they overpay and offer a 4th-round selection. General manager Eric DeCosta has his work cut out for him. But the good news is he knows what the budget affords.
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