Ravens Latest Contract Move Suggests Star’s Impending Departure

Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum is one of the best centers in the league, but the former first-round pick could join a new team before long. Selected with the 25th-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Iowa product has been one of the game’s elite interior linemen since joining the NFL. He has yet to finish outside the top seven in PFF grade and made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons, creating running lanes for his running backs while ensuring Lamar Jackson stays safe from interior pass rushers.

Despite this strong play, the Ravens surprisingly declined the fifth-year option in his contract. This is likely due to the stacked nature of Baltimore’s roster. The team is among the most talented in football, but the salary cap ensures that teams cannot keep all of their elite talent once rookie contracts expire. As great as Linderbuam is, center isn’t the most important position in the league, and Baltimore knows they cannot afford the luxury of paying up for a luxury position. The Ravens are in the midst of their Super Bowl window, so they’ll keep him around for 2024, but one of the following teams could grab him next year.

Ravens Could Lose Tyler Linderbaum Following Latest Contract News

Possible Fits

Los Angeles Chargers

Nobody believes in the importance of winning in the trenches more than Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. An old-school football mind, the former Michigan champion prefers to win football games with a strong rushing attack, and he’s already implemented most of his vision. First-round pick Omarion Hampton should thrive in Harbaugh’s scheme, and the offensive line is one of the best in football. However, center is still a weak link, and replacing Bradley Bozeman with a legitimate star like Tyler Linderbaum could make this offensive line the envy of the league.

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons allowed Drew Dalman to walk in free agency, largely because they didn’t have the financial resources to make a competitive offer. That should change in 2026, as they presumably won’t have Kirk Cousins and his massive contract on the payroll. Cousins is one of the worst contracts in football, but the Falcons aren’t willing to cut him for nothing. Assuming they find a trade partner at some point, Atlanta can build a roster around the younger and cheaper Michael Penix. Stealing Tyler Linderbaum from the Ravens should solidify the biggest weakness on the offense while allowing star running back Bijan Robinson to dominate on interior runs.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Head coach Liam Coen has his work cut out for him as he attempts to rebuild the Jacksonville Jaguars. Following the retirement of Mitch Morse, former third-round bust Robert Hainsey will likely start for this organization. Hainsey may be an adequate one-year option for a rebuilding organization, but he’s not a long-term fix. Signing Tyler Linderbaum from the Ravens will give the Jaguars a firm anchor at the center of their offensive line.