Ravens Offered $88M Deal to Pro Bowl Center Before Raiders Move

Baltimore couldn't match Las Vegas' 3-year, $81M contract for Tyler Linderbaum

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Baltimore Ravens offered a 4-year, $88 million contract to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum before he ultimately signed a 3-year, $81 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. While the Ravens' offer was competitive, the Raiders' $27 million average annual value exceeded Baltimore's by around $5 million per year, and the shorter 3-year structure also proved more appealing to Linderbaum.

Why it matters

Linderbaum was a cornerstone of the Ravens' offensive line, earning 3 straight Pro Bowl selections from 2023-2025. His departure is a significant loss for Baltimore, as he was a key part of their league-leading rushing attack. The Ravens' inability to retain Linderbaum highlights the challenges teams face in keeping top offensive line talent, especially at the center position.

The details

Drafted 25th overall in 2022, Linderbaum started 71 of 73 possible games for the Ravens, including the postseason. He recorded the second-best pass block win rate among centers at 96.2% and a 71.2% run block win rate, which ranked 7th. During the 2025 season, Baltimore averaged 156.6 rushing yards per game, the second-highest mark in the NFL, and led the league with 5.3 yards per carry.

  • In 2025, the Ravens did not exercise Linderbaum's fifth-year option, which would have paid him $23.4 million in 2026.
  • On March 10, 2026, Linderbaum signed a 3-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The players

Tyler Linderbaum

A 25-year-old center who was drafted 25th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 and made 3 consecutive Pro Bowls from 2023-2025.

Baltimore Ravens

An NFL team that offered Linderbaum a 4-year, $88 million contract before he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Las Vegas Raiders

An NFL team that signed Linderbaum to a 3-year, $81 million contract after finishing 3-14 in the 2025 season and holding the 1st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“The Ravens offered a $88 million four-year deal which represented an annual average of $22 million.”

— Jeff Zrebiec, Reporter (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Ravens will need to find a new starting center to anchor their offensive line and rushing attack after losing Linderbaum to the Raiders.

The takeaway

The Ravens' inability to retain one of the NFL's top centers highlights the challenges teams face in keeping elite offensive line talent, especially at premium positions like center where the salary structure can make it difficult to compete with other teams' offers.