The Baltimore Ravens are running out of time to make critical offseason decisions. They’re entering a new era after hiring Jesse Minter to be their head coach, and after a poor showing in 2025, the front office should be doing everything in its power to build a champion-contending unit in 2026.
While trade rumors surrounding superstars like Maxx Crosby and A.J. Brown have been fun to entertain, it all starts with retaining key contributors in need of a new deal in the coming months. The most crucial extension that general manager Eric DeCosta needs to get done is that of their top pending free agent: Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
Linderbaum went to his third-straight Pro Bowl in 2025. It’s clear that he’s going to reset the center market and then some. If he enters unrestricted free agency, the Ravens will inevitably have to get into an all-out bidding war to keep the 25-year-old in Charm City. On Tuesday, cornerback Marlon Humphrey sent a subtle social media message that could be seen as a signal to DeCosta to get an extension ironed out.
Humphrey retweeted this post on X, highlighting how wild it would be if Linderbaum hit unrestricted free agency.
I can’t get over how insane it is a 25 year old superstar center is about to hit unrestricted free agency. Tyler Linderbaum isn’t a player you see walk out the door after a rookie contract. Some team is getting an unbelievable player.
— Jake Rabadi (@JakeRabadi) February 17, 2026
If this is Humphrey dropping a hint to DeCosta, hopefully, it pushes the urgency of agreeing on a new contract with Linderbaum.
Marlon Humphrey sends a clear message to Eric DeCosta on Tyler Linderbaum negotiations
Every player and Ravens fan knows the importance of Tyler Linderbaum. He’s one of those players you can’t afford to lose. In 2025, he was a life raft that kept Baltimore’s interior offensive line somewhat afloat, and if the team lets him depart in free agency, things could go significantly awry.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson endured several nagging injuries last season, many of which could be traced back to the pass protection struggles. The offensive guard duo of Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele was downright awful, but Linderbaum’s efforts gave some broken-down plays a second chance at life. Letting him sign a lucrative deal with a different team would be possibly the biggest mistake of DeCosta’s career.
The Ravens wouldn’t be in this situation right now if they had accepted Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last year, but they opted to decline it due to a large financial commitment. He would’ve been paid like an offensive tackle at $23.4 million. For the same reason, they more than likely won’t use the franchise tag on him, which would cost around $27.9 million. That’d be ridiculous for a center.
There’s no question that DeCosta wants Linderbaum back. However, there may be a priority on Lamar Jackson’s contract right now. Jackson’s cap hit reaches $74.5 million in 2026, and working out an extension would create cap flexibility and a better chance to build around Jackson, especially when it comes to keeping a high-value star like Linderbaum.
According to Spotrac, Linderbaum is expected to sign a four-year deal worth nearly $71 million and an annual salary of $17.7 million. That feels a bit low, and with all the teams expected to be in the running for Linderbaum, the price will become inflated. Throw in the fact that he has been praised as a top-three player in free agency this year, and he will undoubtedly demand closer to $20 million, or even exceed that mark.
Free agency is a frenzy that a team like the Ravens usually tries to avoid. When it comes to Linderbaum, they can’t let the door open for other teams to get involved. DeCosta needs to get a contract figured out as soon as possible.