The Baltimore Ravens suddenly have a lot more on their offseason plate than initially expected. Their decision to fire Head Coach John Harbaugh was not only shocking in the eyes of the media but also to many within Baltimore’s organization. After an underwhelming 2025 campaign, they’ll not only have to focus on rebuilding their roster but also find a new head coach and staff.
While most of the attention is understandably shifted toward their interview process and locating the next leader to propel the franchise into the foreseeable future, they cannot afford to take too much time on that. Pretty soon, they’ll have to shift their focus toward their stacked class of pending free agents.
In just a couple of months, those players still without a contract will hit the open market. For many contributors, this process will be inevitable. For others, General Manager Eric DeCosta must scramble to extend before a competitive free agent market drives up their price. That list of players includes three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
Ravens need to give Tyler Linderbaum a lucrative extension
Extension talks could be a struggle, as both sides will want to get the best bang for their buck, but Baltimore is in a rough spot. In most cases, when a team’s highly coveted starter is about to hit free agency, they’ll use the franchise tag. However, according to Over the Cap, the franchise tag for an offensive lineman is projected to be just under $27.2 million. That is simply not a price that Baltimore can afford, making it critical that they get an extension done with Linderbaum quickly.
It’s an easy choice to give Linderbaum that new deal, but it’ll obviously cost a pretty penny. According to Spotrac, the 25-year-old is expected to cash in on a four-year contract worth nearly $71 million. His annual salary is projected at $17.7 million. That will only get more expensive with countless teams expected to bid on his services if he makes it to free agency once March 12 hits.
Regardless of how much money Linderbaum wants, DeCosta needs to give him that. For all Ravens fans care, they could give him a blank check, and they’d be happy. After a disastrous year from the interior offensive line, Linderbaum made it somewhat competitive up front, and he is being rewarded for those efforts with his third straight trip to the Pro Bowl.
There are a number of ways in which Baltimore’s front office can go about this offseason, but retaining Linderbaum must be a part of it.