Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta shared that the team has made an aggressive contract offer to center Tyler Linderbaum.
The Baltimore Ravens are doing all they can to retain center Tyler Linderbaum.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta shared that the team has made an aggressive contract offer to the top-rated center.
DeCosta spoke to media members at the NFL Scouting Combine and reaffirmed that the team is doing all it can to keep Linderbaum a Raven.
"We've been having conversations, we've had conversations since the end of the season," DeCosta said. "At this point in time, we've made him a market-setting deal proposal offer. Hopefully, we can get something done with him between now and the start of the new league year."
DeCosta has his sights set on making Linderbaum the highest-paid center in the league, surpassing Kansas City Chiefs star center Creed Humphrey. Humphrey's deal is a four-year deal worth $72 million ($18 million per year) that he signed in 2024.
It didn't stop with DeCosta. Head coach Jesse Minter also shared the same sentiment.
"I think he's the best center in the league. I think he's one of the best interior linemen in the league," Minter said. "[A] major part of the team here. Somebody we'd love to have back... I think he knows how we feel about him and that we'd love to have him back. I think he's a major piece of our offense. I think he fits really well in the direction that our offense is headed."
Linderbaum's contract could reset the market for the center position.
Linderbaum is considered the team's top free agent this offseason cycle. Not only do the Ravens want to retain him, but he has also expressed his desire to remain in Baltimore.
The Ravens drafted the former Iowa Hawkeye with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has been named a Pro Bowler three times in his career and has established himself as a pillar for the team.
His dominant play has done wonders for the Ravens. Linderbaum is among the best run-blocking centers in the league. He has an 83.1 PFF run-blocking grade, ranked fourth at the position.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport provided insight into the contract negotiations between the Ravens and Linderbaum.
"They have tried to negotiate with him," Rapoport said on the “NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal” podcast. "Eric DeCosta, the way he does things is kind of like [Eagles GM] Howie Roseman, he's very aggressive and he will keep at it."
It’s no longer a matter of if Linderbaum stays in Baltimore, but rather what his next contract will look like.