Tyler

Linderbaum

It’s a record-breaking contract that makes Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history. The $27 million average per year beat Creed Humphrey’s record for centers by $8 million a season. The Raiders desperately needed this kind of talent infusion on their interior line, and with Fernando Mendoza (almost certainly) about to arrive soon, Linderbaum will help him set protections and get him adjusted to the NFL game. The rumors that Linderbaum was about to get a blank check in free agency proved more than true. This is also a big boost to Ashton Jeanty’s fantasy stock.

Throw another team name on the pile. This makes plenty of sense as the Commanders released starting center Tyler Biadasz (recently signed by the Chargers) ahead of free agency. Linderbaum is going to cash in big time on being the best available offensive lineman on the market, should he get there.

Linderbaum is projected to make well over $20 million a season in free agency, though the Ravens are still trying to get him locked up before he gets there. The Giants have been linked to Linderbaum throughout the offseason since they brought in John Harbaugh. The Raiders also make plenty of sense with their cap space and offensive line troubles. This is the first we’ve seen of the Titans linked to Linderbaum, but that’s also a sensible destination given the release of Lloyd Cushenberry.

It’s notable that Zrebiec still predicts the Ravens will hold on to Linderbaum, betting on him to take less money to stay in Baltimore on an annual contender. But it’s hard to believe he couldn’t do better on the open market, and if he gets to the open tampering period unsigned, he’s probably “as good as gone” in Zrebiec’s words.

DeCosta was clear about the team’s intent to keep Linderbaum as he’s expected to have several suitors in free agency this spring. The All-Pro center, perhaps the best in the league, could see interest from the Chargers and Giants, as both teams are coached by Harbaugh brothers, and John Harbaugh — Baltimore’s former head coach — is trying his best to get the band back together in New York. Pro Football Focus graded Linderbaum 23rd among centers in pass blocking last year and third in run blocking. Linderbaum has been durable, missing just two regular season games over his first four NFL seasons.

The Chargers do not often dip outside of GM Joe Hortiz’s preferred free agency lanes, but Rhim speculates it might be different for the former Ravens center who Hortiz helped draft in 2022. The Chargers definitely have a need at the position as Bradley Bozeman has been outclassed the last few years. Linderbaum would do a lot to help fix an interior line that has just never come together. But this does rely on the Chargers doing something they haven’t really done under Hortiz yet: spending big in free agency.

Linderbaum is expected to have a strong market, in other words. The two natural landing spots will be a return to Baltimore and a reunion with coach John Harbaugh in New York, though neither are exactly flush with cap space. Linderbaum has posted PFF grades above 74.6 in all four of his seasons and is a strong run blocker despite being undersized. He’ll turn 26 in April.

After coaching the Ravens for 18 years, it’s no surprise Harbaugh would try to get the band back together in New York. That could include C Tyler Linderbaum, who played under Harbaugh in Baltimore from 2022 to 2025. Linderbaum, 26, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and a potential upgrade for a Giants offensive line that struggled throughout 2025. Harbaugh could also pursue Patrick Ricard and Isaiah Likely in free agency. Harbaugh could also bring in coaches he had during his time in Baltimore.

Stanley was sidelined on Wednesday after trying unsuccessfully to play through the ankle injury in Week 4 against the Chiefs. Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum (calf) continued practicing after getting in a limited section yesterday. The Ravens need their offensive line starters on the field this week to protect pocket-passing backup QB Cooper Rush, with starting QB Lamar Jackson expectedly sidelined by a hamstring injury. They face the Texans’ potent pass rush this weekend.

A Jackson contract extension has been on the offseason backburner since March and will likely be a training camp story. Jackson’s cap figure spikes to $74.5 million in 2026. Zrebiec describes Jackson as gaining “more leverage in the contract talks with each passing month” should this drag on. We’re not expecting this to balloon into a major problem for the Ravens, but the negotiations with Jackson could hold up extension talks for players like Kyle Hamilton, Isaiah Likely, and Tyler Linderbaum.