Despite being the top-ranked center on nearly everybody’s boards going into the 2022 NFL Draft, Iowa lineman Tyler Linderbaum may not hear his name called on Day 1 of the Draft. According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, not one team he spoke to had a first-round grade on Linderbaum. 
Analysts’ early looks haven’t quite reflected this grade. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Linderbaum as his 17th best overall prospect, placing him firmly as a first-round talent. The NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent rankings are a bit more in line with Pauline’s assertion, placing Linderbaum as the 32nd best prospect in the Draft, a borderline first-rounder. Pauline claimed that every team had early second-round grades on the 22-year-old.
The top center in last year’s Draft was Alabama’s Landon Dickerson, who was chosen by the Eagles with the fifth pick of the second round. In 2020, Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz was taken by New Orleans with the 24th pick of the first round. Both players have spent most of their playing time at guard, starting most games for their respective clubs. Before that, Garrett Bradbury was selected by the Vikings with the 18th overall pick in 2019. Frank Ragnow and Billy Price were chosen with back-to-back picks by the Lions and Bengals, respectively, the year before. While Price no longer wears orange and black after being traded to the Giants, all three have become starting centers, with Ragnow earning Pro Bowl honors at the position.
All this to say that returns on top-drafted centers are hard to read. Some end up as utility interior linemen on teams with already established centers; Ruiz shifted to the side of Erik McCoy and Dickerson playing around Jason Kelce. They may be the heir apparent once their predecessor departs, but for now they’re too talented to keep off the field. Price lost his starting center position in Cincinnati, but regained snapping duties in New York. Bradbury and Ragnow have both been solid-to-good starters for middling teams.
There may just not be a huge need for centers right now. Like quarterbacks, a team only utilizes one center on a regular basis, meaning there are usually no more than 32 starting jobs in the league. If every team is completely comfortable with their situation in the middle, then a first-round pick might be too high a price to bring in Linderbaum. Yet, seeing how consistently Rimington Trophy finalists have come in and produced, this could just be a reflection of how teams view his talent. Linderbaum may just be a Day 2 pick.
Pauline also reported that his research of teams’ offensive line boards show college tackles like Kentucky’s Darian Kinnard, UCLA’s Sean Rhyan, Central Michigan’s Luke Goedeke, and North Dakota State’s Cordell Volson as guards on most teams’ boards. This is not entirely uncommon, especially for Goedeke and Volson, being from smaller market schools. Being a dominant offensive tackle at the NFL level demands much more than at the college level. Consistent pressure from NFL-sized defensive linemen requires size, strength, and length that isn’t always necessary in the NCAA. It’s fairly commonplace to see good tackles who maybe aren’t first-round talents make their case as a larger guard with frequent success.
‘All this to say that returns on top-drafted centers are hard to read.’
You can say that every position. Just ask K Murray and B Mayfield!
The silver lining is that if you get it right drafting a center you don’t need to upgrade for about a decade. Jeff Van Note, Blair Bush, Mike Webster and Ray Donaldson all had careers that lasted over 240 games.
Linderbaum should be picked by the Cardinals in the first.
Play him at RG and eventually he will take over from Hudson at centre.
Too small to play guard. That his biggest issue.
I know the conventional wisdom goes against picking interior linemen in the first, but the Steelers (Pouncey and Decastro), Chiefs (Humphrey), and Cowboys (Martin) have proven in the last decade that that is not an absolute rule. Linderbaum looks great as a prospect. Regardless of position, if you hone in on a good player and you need him, you should take him. Those are just my thoughts.
Humphrey was a 2nd round pick. Ryan Kelley and Quentin Nelson should be included in that conversation. So does Brandon Scherff when healthy.
True, my mistake. You’re right regarding the Colts’ linemen as well.
Humphrey with the Chiefs was a 2nd round pick
This story seems to have left out that he is epically undersized, to the point that he would have to be an absolute outlier in order to succeed in the NFL. Also that he is universally viewed as only a center, with no ability to play guard. These 2 facts seem important.
That’s overstating things. He’s about Jason Kelce’s size and notably strong. He can only play center, and best suited to a zoned blocking scheme, but the size isn’t that outlying.
Kelse is 6’3″ and 295….Tyler is 6’2″ and 270 which might be a bit of a stretch by the Iowa press guide…..Kelse has him by 25 lbs which means he isn’t “about Kelse’s size” in reality…..and the article makes total sense even though on the right team this kids a winner!
Linderbaum was 296 at the combine.
where did you get 6 2 270? lindenbaum is 6 3 291..
where do you get 6′ 2 270? lindenbaum is 6′ 3 291..
Yo…relax….Click on his name in this article….if the stats are wrong, don’t blame me…..blame the author as he probably picked up those stats from the Hawkeye which listed his as an incoming freshman…..I’m not disparaging him, as I wish my Giants would use one of their isn round picks on what seems to be a clear cut starting center right from the start.
would love to see Philly get him in the second round.
Seems like a waste. Kelce’s back for a year, Linderbaum can’t really fit at guard, and they already took a center successor in the second round last year.
still going to need another lineman once Kelcr retires and guys like Johnson aren’t getting any younger either. if Linderbaum is as good a C as they say than I’d hate to miss out on that potential if they can get a stud CB and a WR or defensive lineman in the 1st as well.
Fits fine with the Jets at top of the 2nd. He can basically sit for a year
As a Jets fan, I’d love it, though I seriously doubt it happens. And they certainly wouldn’t sit him for a year.
He can be the Jets starting center right now. Second round would be perfect for us. Lord knows we need a center in the worst way.
Vikings at the #46 pick ( think its 46) would have to look hard at him. Vikings centers have sucked for years , getting blown up quite often. I think this kid could be plugged right in as a starter for 5/6 years which would be awesome.
No reason the Vikings don’t have a plug and play starter on both offense and defense with their first two picks in this draft. Jordon Davis and Linderbaum would shore up the line on both sides , instantly helping both units depth.
Linderbaum isn’t falling that far.
Bengals would be smart to scoop him up at pick 31 if he’s still available.