Tyler Linderbaum, New York Giants
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Tyler Linderbaum #64 of the Baltimore Ravens motions against the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium.
From the day any team hires a new head coach, fans will always run to check and see what impending free agents their new coach can bring with them from their most previous stop. New York Giants fans were no different.
As soon as word got out that John Harbaugh would be coming to New York, the Baltimore Ravens‘ impending free agent page on Spotrac was likely overloaded with Giants fans.
There are plenty of talented Ravens set to hit the open market this offseason, such as tight end Isaiah Likely and edge Dre’Mont Jones. But the one that likely caught most eyes was center Tyler Linderbaum.
The All-Pro center is arguably the best at his position in the league, and figures to have quite the market in free agency, but unfortunately for the Giants, the Ravens seem intent on retaining their former first-round pick.
Ravens Have Already Offered Massive Contract to Tyler Linderbaum
The New York Giants may have to back up the Brinks truck if they hope to land Linderbaum in free agency, because Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters today that the team has already offered a “market-setting” contract to their impending free agent.
“First of all, Tyler is a guy that I have tremendous respect for…he’s proven to be, in my opinion, the best center in the league,” DeCosta told gathered reporters.
“We’ve been having conversations, we’ve had conversations since the end of the season, and at this point in time, we’ve made him a market-setting deal, proposal, offer, and hopefully we can get something done with him between now and the start of the new league year.”
As things stand now, Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey is the highest-paid center in the NFL, making $18 million per year on a four-year, $72 million contract.
If Linderbaum’s deal is “market-setting,” as DeCosta said, it likely falls just above that, maybe even reaching $19 million annually.
The Giants, who are cash-strapped as it is, would have to get creative in order to free up the space to land the All-Pro center.
Are the Giants Better Off Sitting Out of the Tyler Linderbaum Sweepstakes?
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan isn’t so sure the best course of action for the New York Giants this offseason is spend almost $20 million per year on a center.
Rather than spend it all on one place, Duggan advocated for the Giants to spread their money around the roster in multiple areas that need it, such as getting a veteran guard to replace 35-year-old Greg Van Roten.
“There will be calls to sign Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, but his PFF projected contract of four years for $80 million is prohibitive, considering the Giants’ bigger needs elsewhere,” wrote Duggan.
“They’re better off making an economical upgrade at guard and then spreading money around to value signings at wide receiver and linebacker,”
It makes sense. Signing Linderbaum would certainly be a massive addition, but is it a luxury the Giants can afford? Probably not.
In the event of signing the former Baltimore Raven, who is playing right tackle? Jermaine Eluemunor figures to receive a decent payday in free agency, and the Giants wouldn’t be able to afford him.
New York is better off spreading their resources around the offense and defense, and not pigeon-holing itself on one particular player.