Dwayne Ledford is rebuilding the Ravens’ offensive line on three principles

Speed off the ball. Toughness. Finishing.

As the Ravens rebuild their offensive line this summer, position coach Dwayne Ledford wants his line’s identity built around those three principles.

“The three things that we talk about doesn’t really take talent,” Ledford, the Ravens’ new offensive line coach and run game coordinator, said Monday. “Really, it’s just a mindset … [and] if we can do those things, we’re going to have a shot every game, every play.”

Ledford joined the Ravens this offseason after spending the past five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He was brought in to fix an offensive line that finished the 2025 season as the 16th-best unit in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and allowed quarterback Lamar Jackson to be sacked on a career-high 10.7% of his drop-backs.

“I know the offensive line seemed to be a narrative this year,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said at the end of last season. “In some games, I thought the [offensive] line played well, [and] in other games we struggled. I think we have pieces. I think we’ve got to be more consistent on the offensive line.”

Rosengarten to step up

This offseason, Baltimore parted ways with three of its five starters: left guard Andrew Vorhees, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and right guard Daniel Faalele. Ledford expects players like third-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten to step up.

“His play, his play style — that’s an example for us,” Ledford said. “And we want to highlight that and also have some of the younger guys to … have a [Rosengarten] kind of mentor.”

These expectations didn’t come as a surprise for the 2024 second-round draft pick.

“As soon as last year ended, I kind of figured that was going to be the case,” Rosengarten said. “I think myself and [left tackle] Ronnie [Stanley] have definitely taken on that huge role of being the two guys that everyone else looks up to in the room.”

This offseason, Rosengarten has challenged himself to be better conditioned. That work wasn’t just about personal improvement, although he hopes it will enable him to become “the best run blocker in the league.” It was also motivated by how the Ravens finished games under former coach John Harbaugh, when the team had trouble putting away opponents in the fourth quarter.

“You want to be talked about like one of the greats, but that’s about finishing in the fourth quarter,” Rosengarten said. “And I feel like way too many games, my first and second year, we left it on the table.”

Rookie’s welcome-to-the-NFL moment

Few players have drawn more praise early in training camp than right guard Vega Ioane, the Ravens’ first-round draft pick out of Penn State. Rosengarten, who has spent camp lining up next to Ioane, said their chemistry has developed surprisingly quickly.

“A stud, man,” Rosengarten said of Ioane. “I feel like I’ve been playing with the guy for three to four years. It’s crazy.”

Even so, training camp has had its welcome-to-the-NFL moments. On Monday, the team’s first day in pads, Ioane found himself on the ground after colliding with running back Derrick Henry.

“I’m chasing after the linebacker. I’m thinking I’m gonna get him,” Ioane said. “We both end up on the ground. … Now I know to stay out of [Henry’s] way.”

Still, Rosengarten has praised Ioane’s movement skills, balance and explosiveness, adding that the rookie has already made life easier for him on combination blocks and pass protection. Ledford has been equally impressed.

“He’s very smart. He understands the game up front,” Ledford said. “He’s got a mindset where he’s trying to get better every day. To me, the sky’s the limit for him.”

Finding the right guy

Even though Danny Pinter has taken most of the Ravens’ first-string reps at center, Ledford is adamant that the starter there is still to be determined. In addition to Pinter, Ethan Pocic and Jovaughn Gwyn are in the mix. Currently coming back from a torn Achilles tendon, Pocic has participated in position drills but has been limited in team drills.

For Ledford, the decision on who will get the start at center will likely not be made until near the end of the preseason, after he has the chance to see how the contenders “take control of the offense” in joint practices and preseason games.

“We want to make sure that we’re diligent and giving everybody the opportunity that’s here with it, because they’re here for a reason,” Ledford said. “And just make sure we get the right guy that we want in there with that first group.”