Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
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(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
After trading Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, the Las Vegas Raiders have roughly $121.7 million in salary cap space to spend this offseason, per Over the Cap. Moreover, after sending Crosby to the Ravens, could the Silver and Black be stealing a player that Baltimore covets?
There’s no question that the Raiders need to bolster their offensive line this offseason, especially if they draft former Indiana Hoosiers QB, Fernando Mendoza.
As a result, it makes sense that Las Vegasis linked to Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, who appears to be testing the open market with the NFL legal tampering period starting onMarch 9.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared the latest on Linderbaum, as the Ravens haven’t been able to agree on a contract with their center that prevents him from testing the open market.
“[The Ravens] have tried over the last several days, last several weeks, to bring back Tyler Linderbaum, the All-Pro, Pro Bowl center, one of the best centers in the NFL,”Rapoport said onMarch 8. “Certainly someone who’s going to be, I would say, the highest-paid center in the NFL when all thisis done.
“He is looking at $20-plus million. From my understanding, the Ravens have remained in contact with him, still have interest in having him back, but there are some other teams, no doubt, that are lurking. I would say the Las Vegas Raiders would make a lot of sense.”
Tyler Linderbaum Has Several Suitors
Moreover, Rapoport noted that other teams are in the mix for Linderbaum, so the Ravens and Raiders will have to edge out arguably one of the best available free agents this offseason.
“Washington Commanders, who cut Tyler Biadasz, only to see him sign for a $10 million-per-year deal with the Chargers. They’re expected to have interest as well. The Tennessee Titans need a center. Tyler Linderbaum is going to do exceptionally well in this free-agent market. Really, it’s just a matter of, does he land back in Baltimore, or do they have a big need to fill there?”
Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders Makes Sense
Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen predicts that if Linderbaum reaches free agency, the Raiders will come 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 aFeb. 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 are some questions about whetherJackson Powers-Johnson can handle it, which is why hewas moved to guard by two differentstaffs already.Finding a centeris going to be important. The Ravens announced [onFeb. 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.”