OTL: Ravens Gambling by Letting Linderbaum Hit Open Market

As of Tuesday evening, the franchise and transition tags have officially closed for the 2026 offseason, and Baltimore has ultimately elected not to place one on any of their 19 pending UFAs. Tyler Linderbaum is seen by many as the #1 player on the verge of hitting the open market and the top offensive lineman available.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made it known at the Combine that Baltimore has offered the former first-round pick a “market-setting” deal, but just four days ahead of the legal tampering, the two sides have yet to come to an agreement. The Ravens won’t be the only team looking in the center market when the legal tampering period opens on March 9th. Teams that could be in the market for Linderbaum include the Bills, Chargers, Giants, Lions, and, after Tuesday’s news of Drew Dalman’s retirement, the Bears.

Linderbaum is viewed by many of those organizations as the “must-get” guy of the 2026 free agency period, and rightfully so. Since entering the league in 2021, he has played in 71 games (regular and postseason), missing just three games over a four-year span, and earning three Pro Bowls in the process (2023-25). In four years as a starter, Linderbaum has allowed 92 total pressures and five total sacks, despite pass protection not being his greatest strength. He fits the Ravens’ outside zone scheme tremendously, and bringing in Dwayne Ledford from the Falcons, a zone scheme guru, could bring out even more in Linderbaum’s game.

One thing I’ll throw out there as my brain evolves around Tyler Linderbaum’s contract.

If you replace him you’re going to need another C that fits an outside zone scheme.

That C is likely going to be smaller and more athletic, which means the same pass pro limitations will…

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) March 2, 2026

The Ravens, without a doubt, need to address their offensive line this offseason, after one of the most underwhelming seasons we’ve seen from the position group in quite some time. With two pending free agents coming from the offensive line, one of whom fans are hoping to see sign elsewhere (Daniel Faalele), allowing Linderbaum to walk seems like a move that could send Baltimore backwards.

Linderbaum is ranked as the #1 potential free agent by CBS Sports and #2 by ESPN and Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer stated Linderbaum’s camp is seeking $25m+ a season, with many projecting a contract in the $21m a year mark.

Breer says, “Word is Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum is shooting for $25 million per year in free agency…I don’t think he quite gets there.”

There’s a belief from many around the league that Linderbaum will be handed a blank check, which is, without a doubt, Baltimore’s worst-case scenario.

Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic said it perfectly in his recent “Who will stay and who will go” article:

If Linderbaum gets to the open market, he’s probably as good as gone.

Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey signed a 4yr/$72M contract extension in 2024, making him the highest-paid center in the league. The range in which DeCosta’s “market-setting” offer sits is an interesting number. Is Baltimore willing to pay in the $25M range Linderbaum’s team is seeking, or will interior offensive line become the absolute #1 focus this offseason?

Should Baltimore pivot, the potential options to replace Linderbaum are solid, but nothing to write home about. Former Bills center Connor McGovern is obviously option number two for many organizations, as talks with Buffalo have reportedly stopped. Carolina Panther Cade Mays, Cleveland Brown Ethan Pocic, and Washington Commander Tyler Biadasz round out the remainder of higher-experienced potential free agent centers. However, with so many teams in the Linderbaum market, competition will be fierce for these consolation prizes as well.

Tyler Linderbaum is obviously the must-have for Baltimore over these next few days, as the need to get a deal done prior to the legal tampering period opens increases.

You’ll hate to watch a young talent like Linderbaum walk, but it might be even more painful to see the Ravens pay a hefty price tag to keep him.

The post OTL: Ravens Gambling by Letting Linderbaum Hit Open Market appeared first on Russell Street Report.