Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum remains without a deal, and the top pending free agent could land with one AFC team that could "break the bank" for him.
Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum is a consensus top-five pending free agent, and it has to do with how elite he is as a blocker. The center position also acts as an anchor for the offensive line, making players who excel there highly coveted.
Linderbaum has not yet received a new deal from the Ravens, and the team is running out of time to make that happen. There are likely to be plenty of suitors that want the linemen, and NFL analyst Mina Kimes believes one AFC team could "break the bank" for him.
A major reason the Ravens may not have struck a deal with Linderbaum yet could be due to Lamar Jackson also needing an extension. His deal must be done to lower his cap hit in 2026, which would open up more space for general manager Eric DeCosta to work with.
With free agency less than three weeks away, the deal with Jackson will need to happen, so the Ravens can then pivot to other contracts, such as the looming one for Linderbaum.
While Linderbaum patiently waits, it is also giving other teams time to formulate a deal that could potentially steal the Pro Bowl center, and Kimes believes a team in play could be the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Can I throw out a crazy idea for Linderbaum? Why not the Raiders? You have a rookie quarterback, you're bringing in a head coach who is going to implement this Kubiak zone blocking scheme, which we know he is a really really good zone blocking center ... If you're the Raiders and you're gonna break the bank at one position, why not choose a position that can help your young quarterback and your run game in a way that desperately needs fixing," Kimes said.
NFL Draft expert Field Yates also chimes in and alludes to the deal making sense, as Linderbaum is only about to be 26 and has plenty of years left to play. While fans and others may point to the fact that Las Vegas may not be good for a bit, investing heavily in the offensive line in the form of Linderbaum would make sense.
Linderbaum has been given a projected contract from The Athletic in the form of a four-year, $71 million contract, which would pay him $17.5 million. This would place him right under Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, who makes $18 million per season.
Linderbaum is viewed as one of the best centers in the NFL, and he ranks fourth per PFF. He is likely to get a deal that will pay him near or even beyond Hupmhrey, potentially resetting the market for centers.
The Ravens can likely afford that, but would they allow him to walk if the Raiders overpay is the question.