INDIANAPOLIS — As pivotal as it is for a football team to have a savvy, technically proficient center with the necessary power and strength to muscle defensive linemen at the line of scrimmage, it’s no surprise that free agency will reflect their high value. League sources characterized it as a “robust market” for elite free agent centers, especially the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl blocker Ryan Jensen and the Baltimore Ravens’ Bradley Bozeman, with both players expected to land hefty contracts.
Ryan Jensen’s and Bradley Bozeman’s free agency market and potential landing spots
The Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and others are expected to have serious interest in those centers, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Jensen is a high priority for the Buccaneers to attempt to retain with sources emphasizing that general manager Jason Licht is going to do everything possible, especially after the abrupt retirement of offensive guard Ali Marpet.
Jensen is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection. He started every game last season, playing in 97% of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps, and overcame an ankle injury that hampered him during the playoffs.
Now that his four-year, $42 million contract is expiring, the former Ravens’ sixth-round draft pick is due for another payday.
Jensen made $10 million last season and could net at least that, if not significantly more in terms of average per year on a new contract.
Is Bradley Bozeman on the Bengals’ radar?
The Ravens would ideally like to have Bozeman back. He’s expected to draw interest from multiple NFL teams should he hit free agency, including the offensive line-needy Bengals, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sprained his knee during the Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams and was sacked 7 times.
Bozeman, 26, is a former sixth-round draft pick out of Alabama and is regarded as a technically sound blocker and a high-character, community-minded individual. He started all but one game last season for the Ravens at center last season. He has also started at left guard and 49 of 62 career games played. Bozeman, according to analytics sites data along with feedback from pro scouts and executives, is graded one of the top centers in the NFL.
A two-time national champion for the Crimson Tide, Bozeman (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) and his wife, Nikki, founded the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation, which focuses on leveling the playing for children living in historically underserved communities.
Jensen and Bozeman are both highly regarded as high-character players that lead by example on and off the field.