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The Baltimore Ravens entered the offseason knowing they would have to rebuild the interior of their offensive line.
A fter agreeing to a one-year contract with veteran center Ethan Pocic, they may finally have their preferred starting five in place.
Pocics deal is worth $3 million with another $1.5 million available through incentives.
The 30-year-old, who turns 31 next month, was recently cleared medically after suffering a torn Achilles in December and is expected to be available for training camp.
His health will remain one of Baltimores most important summer storylines, but his arrival gives the Ravens something their other center candidates could not offer: extensive NFL starting experience.
Pocic has started 97 games during nine seasons , including 57 for the Cleveland Browns over the past four years.
He previously made 40 starts for the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft.
That resume immediately makes him the favorite to replace Tyler Linderbaum and anchor Baltimores remodeled offensive line.
Here is how the Ravens projected starting offensive line looks following the signing.
Left tackle: Ronnie Stanley Ronnie Stanley remains the foundation of the offensive line and Lamar Jacksons primary blindside protector.
Baltimores changes along the interior should allow Stanley to continue providing stability at one of the games most important positions.
The Ravens do not need Stanley to compensate for uncertainty at multiple spots as much as they might have before the Pocic signing.
A veteran center capable of making protection calls and identifying defensive fronts could help the entire unit communicate more efficiently, especially with a rookie expected to start at one of the guard positions.
Left guard: John Simpson The Ravens brought John Simpson back as the likely replacement for Andrew Vorhees, adding a veteran who is already familiar with the organization and Jacksons playing style.
Simpson gives Baltimore an experienced, physical guard who can contribute to the downhill rushing attack built around Jackson and Derrick Henry.
He also provides some continuity within an interior group undergoing significant turnover.
Pairing Simpson with Stanley on the left side should give the Ravens an established combination while the rest of the line develops chemistry.
Center: Ethan Pocic Pocic should enter training camp as the favorite to start, provided his surgically repaired Achilles responds well to a full workload.
Baltimore would not be signing him this close to camp without believing he has a legitimate opportunity to win the job.
General manager Eric DeCosta and coach Jesse Minter had publicly expressed confidence in the Ravens internal options, but DeCosta also acknowledged that the team would continue exploring released veterans and potential trade targets.
Pocic represents the experienced upgrade Baltimore had been monitoring throughout the offseason.
His experience separates him from the rest of the competition.
Danny Pinter has made 10 career starts, while Jovaughn Gwyn and Corey Bullock have never started an NFL game.
Pocic has nearly 10 times as many starts as the other three candidates combined.
The primary concern is not whether Pocic knows how to play the position.
It is whether he can return to form less than a year after tearing his Achilles.
Pocic was recently cleared and described as ready for full football activity, but the Ravens will likely manage his workload carefully during the opening stages of camp.
Right guard: Vega Ioane Baltimore used the No.
14 overall pick on Penn State guard Vega Ioane with the expectation that he could contribute immediately.
Regarded as the top interior offensive lineman in the draft, Ioane should be given every opportunity to secure the starting right guard job.
Ioane brings size, power and long-term upside to a position the Ravens needed to stabilize.
He will still have to adjust to NFL speed and the complexity of professional pass-protection schemes, but placing an experienced center beside him could accelerate that transition.
Pocics addition may be especially important for Ioane.
Instead of asking a rookie guard and an inexperienced center to learn together, Baltimore can place Ioane next to a veteran who has handled protection calls against AFC North defenses for four seasons.
That arrangement could reduce the communication mistakes that often affect young interior linemen.
Right tackle: Roger Rosengarten Roger Rosengarten projects to remain the Ravens starter at right tackle and could be positioned for another step forward as he gains experience.
Rosengarten and Ioane would give Baltimore a young, potentially powerful right side capable of developing together.
There could be growing pains, particularly in pass protection, but both players possess the physical traits to become long-term pieces in front of Jackson.
The Pocic signing also means Rosengarten should not have to deal with constant changes directly inside him.
Offensive-line continuity matters, and Baltimore now has a realistic chance to enter the regular season with clearly defined starters at all five positions.
Ravens projected starting offensive line LT Ronnie Stanley LG John Simpson C Ethan Pocic RG Vega Ioane RT Roger Rosengarten Pinter had been considered the favorite at center after signing a one-year, $2.75 million contract in March.
He was the only player among Baltimores initial candidates with an NFL start, giving him an early advantage over Gwyn and Bullock.
Pocics arrival changes that calculation.
Pinter can remain involved in the competition and provide valuable depth at multiple interior positions, but Baltimore did not add a player with 97 career starts merely to fill out the bottom of the roster.
If Pocic is healthy, the starting job should be his to lose.
That does not mean the competition is over.
Achilles injuries can be difficult for offensive linemen because of the explosion, balance, and anchor strength required on every snap.
Pinter could still win the job if Pocic experiences a setback or needs additional time to regain his pre-injury movement.
The signing nevertheless gives Baltimore protection against its greatest offensive-line concern.
Before adding Pocic, the Ravens were preparing to replace an established Pro Bowl center with a group that had combined for only 10 career starts.
They can now enter camp with a proven starter, a capable veteran alternative, and two developmental options.
Baltimores interior offensive line has been reshaped with three significant additions.
Simpson is expected to replace Vorhees, Ioane arrives as a plug-and-play first-round selection, and Pocic becomes the favorite to take over for Linderbaum.
There are still questions about health, chemistry, and how quickly Ioane will adjust to the NFL.
However, the Ravens projected lineup appears considerably more stable than it did before Pocic was cleared and signed.
If he remains healthy, Baltimore may have found the final piece needed to complete its starting offensive line.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens projected offensive line after signing Ethan Pocic.