The top center sweepstakes in free agency history is over. Linked to several teams, Tyler Linderbaum is choosing Las Vegas. The Raiders are adding the Pro Bowl blocker, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
It will take a three-year, $81MM deal to bring Linderbaum to the desert. The Commanders, Titans and Giants joined the Ravens in being in on PFR’s No. 1-ranked free agent. Rather than a four-year commitment, Linderbaum agreed to a shorter-term deal that includes $60MM guaranteed.
In terms of market obliteration, this is among the greatest achievements in NFL history. Linderbaum hitting free agency allowed him to land a deal $9MM north (AAV-wise) of any center pact before him. This contract also checks in clear of every guard salary, with Linderbaum’s $27MM-per-year number topping Tyler Smith‘s $24MM AAV. This is a staggering commitment, but the Raiders led the NFL in cap space. After sending Maxx Crosby to Baltimore, Las Vegas will pilfer the Ravens’ O-line centerpiece.
Patrick Mahomes held the quarterback AAV record for less than two years, but it is safe to expect Linderbaum’s grip on the center market to last longer. It took Mahomes giving the Chiefs 10 years of control for them to hike the QB market by $10MM per year in 2020. Linderbaum managed to smash Creed Humphrey‘s center-record number ($18MM) without any such concessions. The power of the open market persists, as the salary cap has now climbed to $301.2MM.
Coming into today, the NFL only had two center pacts — after Drew Dalman‘s retirement — north of $13MM per year. Those went to Humphrey and the Eagles’ Cam Jurgens ($17MM). Linderbaum has signed an outlier accord and will join a Raiders O-line that is otherwise light on expenses beyond Kolton Miller‘s 2025 extension. Miller and Linderbaum will lead the way in protecting expected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, whose rookie contract will align with Linderbaum’s three-year deal.
ESPN’s pass block win rate metric ranked Linderbaum fourth among all interior O-lineman last season; he ranked 13th in 2024. Pro Football Focus, conversely, has graded Linderbaum as a far superior run blocker. The agile lineman has certainly made a considerable difference for a run-reliant offense, and the Raiders are certainly paying him to help unleash Ashton Jeanty, who spent much of his rookie season bottled up behind an O-line PFF ranked 32nd.
The Raiders used a combination of Alex Cappa and Jordan Meredith at center last season. It should be expected Las Vegas, which entered today needing to spend to reach the three-year salary-floor mandate, will be in the guard market as well. Right tackle also served as a need for the struggling franchise, but this market’s biggest O-line fish — one of the biggest O-line prizes in free agency’s 34 years — will be teaming with (almost certainly) last year’s Heisman winner.
As for the Ravens, they will need a fallback option. The 2022 first-round pick had helped an O-line that lost guard starters in free agency along with RT Morgan Moses. While Baltimore has Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten in place at tackle, the team has needs at guard (where Daniel Faalele is unsigned) and now a massive void at center. The Ravens had aimed to pay Linderbaum, but they did not pick up his fifth-year option in 2025. The CBA groups all O-linemen together, making centers difficult to tag; no center has been tagged since Ryan Kalil (Panthers) 15 years ago.
Those factors helped lead Linderbaum out of Maryland, completing one of the more memorable chapters in O-line free agency history.
Huge.
WOW.
Shocking splash by the Raiders but it makes sense when they’re drafting a QB first overall.
And Linderbaum is only 25. So they can build a career together.
Huge raise for the center position, so good for him, but hey why not for the Raiders. They have huge amounts of cap space, needed line improvements, and have a rookie QB coming in with a rookie head coach from the Shanahan tree. Getting a high level center seems like a place worth overpaying, especially when so many teams need one.
Paying a record $27M a year for a center is hardly ‘pilfering’. It’s a massive overpay.
whatever, nat. Got one of the best centers in the NFL AND 2 1st rounders for Maxx. (essentially)
Not really an issue when you have a QB on a rookie contract, once the dead money from Geno falls off. Smart to secure interior line for a rookie
Glad Lynch didn’t bite for this guy. Good player but that’s too much money for my liking. Also, I expect Raiders to cut him before the start of Y3.
Thank God the Bears said no. That’s even worse than 25 million a year. Ludicrous.
Who fugging cares when the Cap is raised and you are gonna have Mendoza on a rookie deal to solidify his career start?! GREAT MOVE!! CONTRACTS CAN ALWAYS BE RESTRUCTURED DUHHH!
BOOM BABY!! SPYTEK & KUBIAK WANT THE TRENCHES BUILT PROPERLY!! THAT RUN GAME WILL OPEN LANES FOR JEANTY! GREAT GET! SPEND THAT CAP MONEY!!
LT Kolten Miller
LG JPJ OR draft Vega Ioane #14!
C Ty Linderbaum
RG JPJ or Caleb Rogers or Parham or Vega Ioane
RT Charles Grant, DJ Glaze OR draft Monroe Freeling at #14
Mendoza on his Rookie Deal is 100% getting Oline Upgrades! This one is like Rodney Hudson FA signing…Great job Spytek 🙂
*Taron Johnson
*Eric Stokes
*Tyler Linderbaum
….and now Jalen Nailor WR Minny!
These deals all seem to be structured the same, next 2 yrs fully guaranteed year 3 team options (little dead money)
I like that, and its how we should be using the cap currently which should allow us clean books when it comes time to extend Mendoza
Id love a small trade back from 14 and then target Ioane or Freeling as well or even that Oregon S if he falls or worst comes to worst take Cooper Indy Wr (or a wr big fall (Tyson?) after the trade back
Nice signing
Wow, I hope he stubs his toe and gets plantar fasciitis in on his other foot you leave a Super Bowl contending team for a bottom feeder You know, money isn’t everything he was getting a record setting deal and playing on a winner. Now he’s getting a massive overpay and playing on a loser.
Given your logic, the only recourse “losers” would have year after year is to strike it rich via the draft for a few years. After all, your view is only “winners” should sign top players while keeping their own. Sounds like you live on Fantasy Island, Tatu