Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
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(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
On March 9,ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Las Vegas Raiders have reached an agreement with former Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum on a three-year, $81 million contract.
Moreover, the deal includes $60 million guaranteed and makes Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history. After a 2025 season in which the offensive line was a disaster for the Raiders, the Silver and Black reportedly got the top center in the open market to anchor the unit.
Last season,Linderbaum recorded an overall PFF grade of 80.2 for the Ravens, with a pass blocking grade of 63.4 and a run blocking grade of 83.7. Furthermore, he allowed only two sacks, which would be good news for the Raiders if they decide to select Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With their center now in place, ESPN NFL insider Mina Kimes shared her thoughts on Linderbaum reportedly joining the Silver and Black.
“You’ve got a rookie quarterback coming in,”Kimes said on March 9. “He’s going to be playing under center. He did not play under center at Indiana. In Klint Kubiak’s scheme, which is very under center, outside zone, boot off of that, the center has a lot of responsibility. And I loved the idea of bringing in a veteran center for Fernando Mendoza.
“‘Okay, we got the rookie quarterback. What do we want to invest in?’ They very clearly decided, ‘We are going to invest in the center position.’ I love it. The price is a whole other conversation, but the player, the fit, the need, what he’s going to do for Mendoza, I love every part of that.”
Raiders Offensive Line Gets Massive Upgrade
Moreover, Kimes went into further detail on why this reported signing for the Raiders makes the team that much better for Mendoza whenever head coach Klint Kubiak believes that player is ready to take over as the starter.
“I also think you can’t say enough in terms of the impact Linderbaum has,” Kimes added. “I went back and watched this film.What is most impressive to me is how he gets out there on screens,the ability to block in space, and some of thedesign screen-game stuff. Klint Kubiak, obviously, abig screen-game play caller.You wantto have an offensive linemanwho you feature in that. Linderbaum can be that player.
“From everything Mendoza does well to everything that Mendoza needs help with makes a lot of sense. I think it allows him to clarify JPJ’s role as well. If you’re still trying to get anything out of Jackson Powers-Johnson, being able to play him in the guard position, you know that center is secured. You put all of your JPJ resources and time into making him work at guard.”
Las Vegas Needed a Veteran Center
Yahoo! Sports’ Nate Tice also shared his thoughtsregarding Linderbaumand while he doesn’t believe the player is an eliteplayer at his position, he’s a fan of getting a veteran centerto potentially help Mendoza.
“Like, Linderbaum, I don’t think is an elite center,”Tice said on March 9. “I think it’s more good to very good. But this is the perfect offense for him. So it’s like, ‘OK, fine.’ And you had to pay a premium. You’re a garbage team. I mean, he’s been honest with what the Raiders are.
“So I think that I love this, too, in the sense of, and I’ve said this ad nauseam, but it’s just you have a veteran center with a young quarterback. I always love that, and I love that transition to help out a young guy. It helps with the state income tax as well, going to Nevada.”