Ravens decline 5th year option on Linderbaum

If Tyler Linderbaum is going to be a Raven in 2026 it will be under a new contract as the Ravens declined his 5th year.

 

Not surprised nor shocked. That said, Linderbaum should look to be the highest paid Center. At worst he is Top 3. At best, he is the best.

 

I always thought the option was a no brainer for certain guys, either yes or no based on performance. There was a discussion this week on the decision for Jones next year, and the tiers of payment based on execution of play. The decision is guaranteed and can (in his position) can be a difference of around 7 million bucks. So it is far for strategic planning, the money is going to be huge (for the Ravens), it's just a matter of when and how much they they will pay out it they want to keep him. Do they save now, do they possibly pay more by waiting, I guess it's all part of the CAP management we do not see.

 

they had to re-sign most of the o-line this year. they just added the tackle from the rams too. in 2026 their top 7 players will eat up 179+ million in cap space.

 

Ouch!

 

Not sure what you mean. If Linderbaum is one of the best Centers in the game why are you not surpirsed to see the Ravens pass on picking up his 5th year option; which would have saved the Ravens millions compared to his asking price in 2026.

 

Actually it doesn't.


Extending him is a lot cheaper than picking up the fifth year option. Picking up the options for both Hamilton and Linderbaum would have caused some serious strain on Baltimores Salary Cap for 2025.

 

The NFL has only one 5th year option for O-linemen, which views every lineman as a left tackle.
His option would have cost them $23.4 million. The highest paid center in the league gets $18 million a year.

 

That is crazy. I wonder why no one has complained before the only the O-Line group is bunched all together. On the Defense's side of the ball DT and DE have different values.

I guess I have always read about complaints on how OLBs are with the ILBs.