The Baltimore Ravens sent shockwaves through the NFL world on Friday, agreeing to a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for edge rusher Maxx Crosby. After months of trade speculation surrounding Crosby, the Ravens pulled off the blockbuster move.
This offseason has been nothing short of aggressive for the Ravens. It started with the firing of John Harbaugh, and now they’ve made a massive addition in Crosby. With a roster in need of a major revamp, acquiring a player like Crosby can shift the team back in the right direction.
Unfortunately, with all the excitement Crosby brings, this could have some unfortunate effects on Baltimore’s free agency plans. With center Tyler Linderbaum expected to sign a deal worth over $20 million, adding Crosby and his $30 million salary doesn’t exactly bode well for re-signing Linderbaum.
Baltimore Ravens’ move for Maxx Crosby could spell end to Tyler Linderbaum’s tenure
Of course, there’s always a way to make some salary cap magic happen. The Ravens already had some breathing room, and diminishing quarterback Lamar Jackson’s $74.5 million cap hit with a new contract will help create a ton of money. They could also restructure Crosby’s cap hit from $30.7 million to just $7.73 million.
If it comes to a head, a team acquiring ED Maxx Crosby will be able to process a simple salary conversion on his contract that will drop his acquired cap hit from $30.7M, down to $7.73M.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 6, 2026
Ultimately, though, the Ravens already have a ton of money tied down to players like Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Nnamdi Madubuike, and Marlon Humphrey. Adding another $20-plus million man to the equation would be some very tough math. Not impossible, and it may be feasible, but it depends on how much Linderbaum wants.
Unless Linderbaum takes a hometown discount, an extension could become difficult to work out. At the NFL Combine, general manager Eric DeCosta said he offered a market-setting contract to Linderbaum. He deserves to reset the center market, but will it be in Baltimore?
If Linderbaum hits free agency, he’d be all but gone. He’s going to be the top free agent on many teams’ boards, and reports believe he may ask for $25 million. Knowing how much of a frenzy free agency becomes, there may be one, or even multiple teams out there, willing to pay near that $25 million mark. It’d be unheard of for a center, but when teams get desperate, they’ll overpay, and Linderbaum could become a very rich man elsewhere.
This isn’t to say Linderbaum is guaranteed to be gone. With how aggressive the Ravens have been, it shouldn’t be a shock if they throw every last dollar out there to ensure the 25-year-old sticks around. However, the Crosby trade makes this all a little bit more complicated.