Ravens reportedly 'aren't thrilled' with contract talks with 3-time Pro Bowler

Mar 3, 2026 - 06:00

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Ravens Eric DeCosta - Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ravens reportedly 'aren't thrilled' with contract talks with 3-time Pro Bowler originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

As the days go by and free agency edges closer, the chances of the Baltimore Ravens being able to keep star center Tyler Linderbaum appear to be shrinking.

We know that after the Ravens declined his fifth-year option, the path forward was clear, but there is a feeling that the Ravens are set to lose Linderbaum.

One, because of the prices mentioned with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer stating Linderbaum's camp is aiming for $25 million APY.

The other is what The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec reported from the combine in Indianapolis.

And like Breer's report, this doesn't appear to bode well for Baltimore.

"The Ravens aren’t thrilled with where contract negotiations stand with center Tyler Linderbaum," Zrebiec wrote. "When general manager Eric DeCosta revealed that the team had made a “market-setting” offer to retain the three-time Pro Bowl center, it was a significant departure from how the normally tight-lipped organization does business. It suggests that a deal wasn’t close at the time of DeCosta’s comments and the Ravens are trying to get Linderbaum’s side to engage.

"Talk in Indianapolis was that teams are lining up to take a run at Linderbaum and he’s primed to make over $20 million per year. The Ravens are running out of time to keep him off the open market."

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Where to now for Ravens and Tyler?

Well, free agency is just around the corner, and it appears there is a figure in mind that Linderbaum's camp wants, and it isn't known if Baltimore is willing to go that high.

Of course, we know several teams will be, and a bidding war will start, something the Ravens won't want to happen if they have any intention of keeping Linderbaum.

There is time to get a deal thrashed out, but based on Zrebiec's report, things don't sound too positive right now.

That can change in an instant, though, and the Ravens know how valuable Linderbaum is to their offensive operation.

But how important? That will be determined by how much they are willing to pay.