The Baltimore Ravens are known for hard-hitting, blue-collar centers on the offensive line, from Jeff Mitchell, Mike Flynn, Matt Birk, to now with Tyler Linderbaum. They each handled the middle of Baltimore's offensive line, opening lanes for running backs and protecting the quarterback. Linderbaum is the latest and maybe the best at his position since being drafted in 2022. Baltimore has him at a good price as of now.
Taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Linderbaum has been a consistent presence on the offensive line, and he should soon be compensated as he's now eligible for a new contract after completing three years. Until Baltimore pays him, Linderbaum is possibly Baltimore's best player without a new deal.
Big money decisions are coming soon
It’s been a minute since we've had to talk about fifth-year options, but here we are—quickly staring down May 1. The Ravens have two easy calls to make: Linderbaum and Hamilton aren’t going anywhere. The only real question is how much it's going to cost to keep them long-term.
Hamilton’s fifth-year option will cost $18.6 million, and Linderbaum’s sits at $23.4 million—potentially making him the highest-paid center in the league. With how the safety market exploded in free agency, Hamilton’s extension is expected to come first, but both players are viewed as core pieces moving forward. The Ravens won’t let either get away, and the front office has already been bracing for this moment. It’s going to cost a fortune, but that’s the price of hitting big on draft night.
Brad Gagnon from Bleacher Report listed every team’s most underpaid player following the start of NFL free agency. For Baltimore, the choice was their two-time Pro Bowl center. Gagnon says:
"Linderbaum and Kyle Hamilton are both key Ravens who are underpaid as critical first-round picks from 2022. Both are 24 years old and already perennial Pro Bowlers, but we’ll go with Lamar Jackson’s steady center as he makes a little less ($3.3 million per year, versus $4.1 million for Hamilton)."
After paying Ronnie Stanley to protect Lamar Jackson, general manager Eric DeCosta should prioritize paying Linderbaum. Keeping Stanley and Linderbaum for the foreseeable future only benefits Baltimore's future.
The same can be said for Kyle Hamilton, who, like Linderbaum, is possibly the best at his position. After three years of production, DeCosta seems to have hit a home run with both of his first-round picks from 2022. Reminiscent of his predecessor, Ozzie Newsome, when he drafted a stud offensive lineman and defensive player—Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis—with his first-round picks in 1996. DeCosta will have to pay both Linderbaum and Hamilton soon.