Ravens make genius financial move declining Tyler Linderbaum's option

The Baltimore Ravens made headlines on Wednesday with a move that might look confusing on the surface, but it’s anything but. The deadline for 2022 first-round option decisions is May 1, giving teams until Thursday to make their final calls. Baltimore officially declined the fifth-year option on two-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, setting him up for a contract year in 2025. The decision wasn’t about performance. Linderbaum has been one of the league’s most consistent interior linemen since arriving from Iowa in 2022. But picking up his option would have guaranteed $23.4 million for the 2026 season—a number that doesn’t truly reflect the actual center market. Instead of locking in a bloated figure, the Ravens are playing the long game. This isn’t a sign of doubt. It’s a sign of leverage, and Baltimore is using it wisely. While the move may raise eyebrows, the context makes it clear: this is about financial flexibility. The NFL lumps all offensive linemen into one bucket for option purposes, meaning Lin