Ravens’ offseason checklist still has one massive box left to tick

When the Baltimore Ravens drafted Tyler Linderbaum with the 25th pick in 2022, the fit felt natural. He arrived from Iowa as the nation’s top center prospect — a two-time All-American with elite athletic traits, a sharp football mind, and an edge forged from a wrestling background.

Since stepping into the starting lineup as a rookie, he’s done exactly what the Ravens hoped for: gave the Ravens consistency in the middle and opened lanes all season long.

Now, he’s eligible for an extension — and the market just shifted. Philadelphia handed Cam Jurgens a four-year, $68 million deal after just one full season starting at center. Linderbaum, who’s made the Pro Bowl twice and hasn’t missed a step in three years, has a significantly stronger resume. If Jurgens helped reset the price, Linderbaum might be the one who pushes it into another tier.

It all sets the stage for what could be Baltimore’s final — and most important — piece of offseason business.

Extending Tyler Linderbaum should be Baltimore’s top offseason priority

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton called it the one move the Ravens still need to make this offseason. Moton wrote: “Now, Baltimore has to speed up the clock on signing Linderbaum to an extension before he hits free agency in 2026. Linderbaum deserves a big-money deal that tops Philadelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens’ four-year, $68 million contract.”

It’s a fair ask. Since joining the team, Linderbaum has consistently improved in pass protection while remaining one of the league’s best movers in the run game. He’s the heartbeat of the offensive line — a player who makes all the calls and identifies protections and does it while matching Lamar Jackson’s tempo and vision. It’s not a coincidence the Ravens’ offense hit new heights the past two years with him earning Pro Bowl honors.

The Ravens declined his fifth-year option, which would’ve guaranteed him $23.4 million in 2026, but only because of how inflated the tag is for interior linemen. They’ve already made it clear they want to keep him. It’s just a matter of negotiating the right number and timing.

Baltimore has already handed out massive deals to Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, and Nnamdi Madubuike. Kyle Hamilton, Travis Jones, and Odafe Oweh are next in line. But if the Ravens are serious about sustaining their contender window, keeping Linderbaum locked in might be the most straightforward step they can take. He’s 25, already elite, and only getting better.

There’s no question the 2025 Ravens look ready to make a Super Bowl run. They just have one last contract to handle before it all clicks into place.

Balti