Baltimore Ravens’ center Tyler Linderbaum is a top-two player in his position. Last offseason, the team declined his fifth-year option, making him a pending unrestricted free agent in 2026. While Baltimore would not be the same without and certainly needs to extend him, one under-the-radar move might have gutted his leverage for a new contract.
The Ravens drafted Garrett Dellinger as an offensive guard in the seventh round out of LSU, but after OTAs, it sounds like he could be the team’s backup center. While that puts second-year center Nick Samac in a precarious position ahead of 2025, it could also be a move to prioritize the future.
Under the radar change could shift Baltimore’s future at center
The hype around Dellinger going into this year is slim to none. Not many knew his name coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft, but it is clear that in camp, the 23-year-old is giving coaches a reason to believe he will make the team’s 53-man roster.
The backup center job is wide open. Samac did not touch the field in 2024 and was a healthy scratch for all 17 regular season games. He has not done much to prove himself early in his career, and the job could be Dellinger’s to win. If he can show a seamless transition from guard to center, he would quickly fall in favor of the Ravens coaching staff. He could offer versatility between guard and center and open another roster spot for a talented Baltimore team.
However, this could also be a move for the future. Linderbaum needs an extension and should get one. However, money will soon become an issue for the Ravens. The Pro Bowl center is part of a long laundry list of pending free agents in 2026. Withholding the fifth-year option was a smart money move, but eventually, the lucrative contract will come calling for the Iowa product.
If Dellinger impresses as a center, the contract talks could take a turn. It will be difficult for anyone to match Linderbaum’s production–he is a top-two center in football–however, the emergence of another center on the roster could push any leverage Linderbaum has out the window. It would be wise for both sides to come to terms on a deal, but it is not like the 25-year-old is the only star player due a contract next year.
The question is, who does Baltimore not have to re-sign in 2026? Tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, pass rushers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, defensive tackle Travis Jones, offensive guard Daniel Faalele, safety Ar’Darius Washington, and fullback Patrick Ricard are all unrestricted free agents at the end of next year.
The team needs to bring back a ton of depth, too. There will be talented players that Baltimore will unfortunately not be able to re-sign, and if the money becomes scarce, the Linderbaum contract could be difficult to make work. He is more than worth the money, but the NFL is a business, and we will have to wait and see where Baltimore uses their cap space.