The Baltimore Ravens might have the best rushing attack in NFL history. It thrives on the combination of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, who play off each other perfectly. The physicality of Henry, paired with the pure athleticism of Jackson, makes it impossible for defenses to gameplan for Baltimore. However, the offense can only go as far as the line takes it, and center Tyler Linderbaum has been the catalyst for success over the last three seasons.
Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked the 32 best centers before the 2025 season, and Linderbaum placed as the second-best in football. It’s been three years of consistent play for the former Iowa Hawkeye, and while he’s getting the flowers he deserves, he has yet to sign the extension he deserves.
Tyler Linderbaum is a star Baltimore can’t let slip away
Baltimore ran for a league-best 3,189 yards in 2024, and none of that would’ve been possible without Linderbaum. The 25-year-old led the interior offensive to complete dominance, paving the way for one of Henry’s best seasons. He has a knack for wiping out defenders downhill. He also makes everyone around him on the line better.
In 2024, Linderbaum was the fourth-best center in the league with a 79.9 overall grade per PFF, including the postseason. His 85.3 grade in run-blocking situations was also fourth best, and his 64.9 pass-blocking grade was just above average. He’s posted similar grades since his NFL career started, and Baltimore must pay up to keep that consistency.
The Ravens opted not to franchise tag Linderbaum ahead of the 2025 season, which would place him on the unrestricted free-agent market in 2024. While the team likely did this to avoid paying the hefty $23.9 million figure, there should be a sense of urgency in the front office now that he’s headed into a contract year. After bringing back Henry and wide receiver Rashod Bateman in the last month, Linderbaum should be next on the list of players to extend.
The 2022 first-round pick has only missed two games in three NFL seasons. He’s been a consistent backbone for Baltimore's last three offensive units. Without him, they’d be lost, searching for an identity in the trenches.
The current situation on the interior is scary. Daniel Faalele was honored as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2024 but needs to be more consistent in 2025, especially as a pass-blocker. Andrew Vorhees seems to be the starting guard opposite of Faalele but has yet to prove himself. Throw in rookies Emery Jones Jr. and Garrett Dellinger, and there’s a lot of uncertainty there.
Linderbaum starting at center for the foreseeable future is crucial to Baltimore's competitive run in the AFC. They’re still looking to finally hoist a Lombardi for the first time since the 2012 season, and retaining the two-time Pro Bowler is the first step in completing that journey.
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