Ravens trade for 2-time Pro Bowl center amid rash of offensive line injuries

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Reeling from injuries to their offensive line, the Ravens acquired center Cam Jurgens, a Pro Bowl selection in 2024 and 2025, from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade Wednesday.

The Ravens sent a fifth-round draft pick in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2028 to the Eagles. Baltimore will also receive Philadelphia’s seventh-round selection in next year’s draft.

Baltimore has lost three centers to injury this season and relied on first-round selection Vega Ioane, a natural guard, to handle the position in Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans. Longtime starter Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency this past offseason.

Jurgens, 27, was a second-round pick in 2022 and is under contract through the 2029 season. He’s primarily played left guard for the Eagles this season because of injuries to their line but is expected to return to center in Baltimore.

“Cam is a player we have long admired going all the way back to the draft process,” general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. “He’s a young foundational piece along our offensive line — a great scheme and cultural fit who will contribute quickly in Baltimore. We are confident that Cam will significantly impact our team and community.”

Jurgens is not expected to make his Ravens debut Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, as he reportedly entered the concussion protocol after the Eagles’ loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Rams. But the hope is that Jurgens will be ready for a Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Jurgens struggled in Philadelphia this season as injuries upended the Eagles’ once-stout offensive line. He allowed a sack and 13 pressures in four games, according to Pro Football Focus, and started the past three games at left guard. He also had four penalties and graded out poorly as a run blocker.

But Ravens coach Jesse Minter called him a “very high-caliber player” with experience in multiple offensive schemes.

“He has been really well trained, I would say,” Minter said. “He is a good athlete. Mentally, he is at a really high level, I would say. So I think it is a great opportunity for him to step in here. We will have to catch him up. Obviously, the terminology will be different for him. But with a guy like that — with the experience of having gone through a few different offenses — that will probably end up benefiting him now, rather than a guy coming from maybe one system.”

Appearing Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” former Eagles center Jason Kelce, a seven-time Pro Bowler, noted Jurgens “has been playing out of position” in recent weeks. He said he was excited for Jurgens to return to center and get “a fresh start in Baltimore.”

Jurgens signed a four-year, $68 million extension with the Eagles before the 2025 season, but analytically was underwhelming at center. His blown-block rate last season was 3%, according to Sports Info Solutions, tied for No. 33 among 37 qualifying centers. Jovaughn Gwyn, the Ravens’ Week 1 center, has a blown-block rate of 1.9% this season.

The Ravens’ investment in Jurgens, who is due a $14.5 million option bonus next spring, a $15.4 million option bonus in 2028 and a $14.3 million option bonus in 2029, underscores DeCosta’s commitment to reinforcing the team’s strengths on offense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was under pressure regularly over the Ravens’ first four weeks, and running back Derrick Henry’s production has fallen off since a breakout season opener.

The Ravens have already lost centers Danny Pinter, Ethan Pocic and Gwyn to significant injuries this season, and right guard Andrew Vorhees could miss extended time after hurting his foot in Sunday’s win over the Titans.

Jurgens would be the fifth center Jackson has worked with since the start of training camp, but his arrival would allow Ioane to continue his development at right guard, where the team views him as a potential cornerstone player.

“I love it, man,” Ioane said. “Like Jesse just said, we just got better as a team. [Jurgens is] a great player. I watch his game a lot, too. It is a good thing for us. Unfortunately for me, I was just starting to like center, but hey, anything is better than me. So I love that for us. I love that for him.”

This story has been updated.