Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum is the biggest free agency domino that will eventually fall along the interior offensive line. Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta said there is still work to do for the two sides in getting a deal done. At the NFL Combine last week, DeCosta said a “market-setting” offer has been made to Linderbaum. The Ravens will not be using the transition tag on him.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported yesterday that the Chargers remain a threat to sign Linderbaum in the event that he does hit the open market. Jeremy Fowler and Graziano also reported that other teams may be willing to outbid the Ravens with offers in excess of $20 million AAV. The feeling around the NFL Combine was that Baltimore may not be willing to go that high.
The Chargers will probably have to overpay if they Tyler Linderbaum
Fowler called $22.5 million AAV a “sensible sweet spot” for teams pursuing a deal with Linderbaum. That would blow the highest-paid center record out of the water. Chiefs C Creed Humphrey became the highest-paid center at 4 years, $72 million ($18 mil AAV) when he signed an extension. If Fowler’s estimate is correct, Linderbaum could dethrone him by nearly $5 million annually.
This could also explain how DeCosta has offered a “market-setting” deal that isn’t enough. Perhaps he’s willing to beat the Humphrey $18 million figure without going above $20 million AAV.
If Linderbaum’s camp knows they could have an offer above $20 million yearly from the Chargers or other teams, it makes sense to wait Baltimore out. Assuming he hits the market, it’s becoming clear the Chargers will have to overpay for Linderbaum’s services. That is the catch with free agency in general.
At the same time, Chargers LG Zion Johnson might have the second biggest IOL free agent market behind Linderbaum. The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and ESPN’s Ben Solak have all heard that Johnson is preparing to break the bank with his new contract. The Chargers have to pursue Linderbaum while monitoring the two other IOL spots.
Linderbaum is still one of the NFL’s top centers. He was the fifth-highest-ranked center in PFF offensive grade last season. It was a slightly down year for Linderbaum as a pass blocker with 26 pressures allowed and a 97.2 pass blocking efficiency. But it was a down year for the Ravens’ offensive line as a whole. Linderbaum will turn 26 this offseason and has three Pro Bowl nods in four NFL seasons.
If Joe Hortiz wants to sign the center he helped draft in Baltimore, he’ll have to put the money on the table. A lot of it.