Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
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(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders need to bolster their offensive line this offseason, and one major position in that unit that needs improvement is center. Moreover, the Silver and Black are likely hoping that one player hits the open market because he would be the ideal solution to anchoring the offensive line.
Tyler Linderbaum and the Baltimore Ravens have yet to reach a contract extension as the clock is ticking with free agency opening soon. If the center does decide to test the opening market, Las Vegas should be among his many suitors.
Moreover, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen predicts that if Linderbaum reaches free agency, the Raiders willcome in with a “sizeable offer,” given what the center position means to new head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense.
“In Kubiak’s offense, that zone‑blocking system requires the point‑of‑attack center to be a legitimate player,”Nguyen said during a Feb. 24 appearance on Raider Nation Radio. “In this system, the center is making all the calls, not the quarterback. The quarterback does have the final say to change it, but the center is the one who sets the protections, points to the Mike, and handles all those responsibilities.
“There aresome questions about whetherJackson Powers-Johnson can handle it, which is why he was moved to guard by two different staffsalready. Finding a centeris going to be important. The Ravens announced [on Feb. 24] that they offered Linderbaum, whois widely regarded as a top free agent, a market‑setting deal.
“Maybe he doesn’t enter free agency, or maybe he does decide to test the market. If he does, the Raiders are likely to make a pretty sizable offer because the center is such an important part of this offense.”
Ravens Doing All They Can to Keep Tyler Linderbaum
As Nguyen mentioned, the Ravens are doing everything in their power to ensure Linderbaum doesn’t hit free agency. On Feb. 24, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta spoke to the media and stated that the team has made a “market-setting” offer to the player ahead of free agency.
“Tyler is a guy I have tremendous respect for,”DeCosta said. “Obviously, he’s proven to be, in my opinion, the best center in the league. We’ve been having conversations. We’ve had conversations since the end of the season.
“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. We’ve always been a team that has valued the importance of the trenches and being up front, which is one of the reasons why we want to bring Tyler back, if we can.”
Raiders Urged to Go All Out for Tyler Linderbaum
PFF gave Linderbaum an 80.2 overall grade for the 2025 season. He recorded a 63.4 pass-blocking grade, good for 22nd among the 40 eligible centers, and an 83.7 run-blocking grade, which puts him fourth among the 40 eligible centers.
As a result, former Raiders offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy recently stated that Las Vegas needs to do whatever it takes to land Linderbaum should he reach free agency.
“I’m throwing a bag of money at Tyler Linderbaum,”Kennedy said on the Feb. 3 edition of “Raiders Squad Show.” “I’m throwing a ton of money. What do you need? Tell me a check that will make you happy to come over for Raiders. That’s just a start, right? But there are plenty of guys out there that I would definitely look at, and I have no problem with accepting and throwing a ton of money out there.”