The Cleveland Browns remade the offensive line this spring, and one of the casualties of that process was longtime starter Ethan Pocic.
After four years and 57 games played for Cleveland, all of them starts, Pocic is headed to an AFC North Division rival, with which he will compete for a starting job, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Sources: Former Browns center Ethan Pocic, who started 97 games in nine NFL seasons before tearing his Achilles last year, is signing a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens,” Schefter reported via social media on Friday, July 17. “Pocic is said to be healthy, and he will have a chance to replace former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, who signed with the Raiders.”
Ethan Pocic Has Been Above-Average Performer Across 4 Years With Browns
GettyCenter Ethan Pocic, formerly of the Cleveland Browns.
Pocic will play next season, his 10th in the league, at the age of 31.
A second-round pick out of LSU in 2017, Pocic spent five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Browns on a one-year deal in 2022. He played his way into a three-year contract worth $18 million total after that, which carried him through last season.
Schefter did not report Friday on the monetary value of Pocic’s deal with the Ravens. His age and injury history likely contributed to the single year on the agreement with Baltimore and may result in a lower price point as well, as Pocic will try to prove he’s fully recovered from his injury.
Pocic graded as the 20th-best center out of 40 players at the position who saw enough snaps to qualify, per Pro Football Focus. He ranked 24th out of 43 centers in 2024, 12th out of 37 centers two years ago and 3rd out of 40 centers in his first campaign with the Browns.
Browns Signed Former Packers Center Elgton Jenkins to Take Over for Ethan Pocic
GettyFormer Green Bay Packers center Elgton Jenkins.
Instead of bringing Pocic back on his third contract with the franchise, Cleveland opted to ink former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
Jenkins is a two-time Pro Bowler who started games at tackle, guard and center for the Packers over his seven-year stint with the team (96 appearances, 94 starts). The Browns signed Jenkins to a two-year contract worth $24 million in March, including $15 million in guarantees.
That represents a significant bet for the franchise on the former second-round pick who will turn 31 years old near the end of the 2026.
The greatest concern for Jenkins walking into Cleveland is his recent injury history. He sustained a broken bone in his leg last year, which cost Jenkins eight regular-season contests and the team’s wildcard playoff game against the Chicago Bears.
Jenkins was just one major investment Cleveland made on the offensive line this offseason. The Browns also inked guard Zion Johnson to a $49.5 million deal over three years and traded a fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans for right tackle Tytus Howard, who will make a total of $45 million over the next two seasons.
Finally, the Browns drafted left tackle Spencer Fano with the No. 9 pick in April, He is likely to start his first-ever NFL game for Cleveland less than two months from now.
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