Coached by John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, the Chargers needed a center after the retirement of their starter, Bradley Bozeman. They were thought to be a primary suitor for Linderbaum, the top center expected to be on the open market next week when NFL free agency opens.
Instead, the Chargers are signing Biadasz, a six-year veteran who was cut recently by the Washington Commanders. Biadasz was a fourth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
Linderbaum is expected to command a contract with an average annual value of $20 million or more, which would reset the center market. Eric DeCosta, GM of the Baltimore Ravens, Linderbaum’s current team, said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Baltimore had made Linderbaum a “market-setting offer.”
Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs, with an average annual value of $18 million per year, is currently the NFL’s highest-paid center.
The free agency negotiating window opens Monday, March 9. The signing period opens on Wednesday, March 11.