ExtremeRavens Posted 11 hours ago Posted 11 hours ago The clock is ticking for the Ravens. Free agency looms less than a week away, and center Tyler Linderbaum still hasn’t agreed to the “market-setting” extension Baltimore has put on the table. When Eric DeCosta spoke about the negotiations last week at the NFL scouting combine, the usually taciturn general manager’s candor revealed the two sides were not particularly close and that the decision is in the three-time Pro Bowl selection’s hands. It’s also not entirely unlike the scenario that unfolded last offseason with left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who drew interest from teams willing to exceed the roughly $20 million per year he ultimately accepted to stay in Baltimore. The difference this time is age and timing. Linderbaum will turn 26 next month, squarely in his prime, and he is widely viewed not only as the best offensive lineman set to reach free agency but one of the most desirable players available. That could complicate Baltimore’s hopes of keeping him, especially if teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns or Las Vegas Raiders decide to make a serious push. Only the Chargers currently resemble a contender, but the others have connections. Baltimore ties run through those buildings — John Harbaugh in New York, Todd Monken and offensive line coach George Warhop in Cleveland and general manager Joe Hortiz in Los Angeles. The Raiders, meanwhile, have the second-most salary-cap space, making them a plausible wild card if they decide to spend heavily to shore up protection for quarterback and presumptive No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza and second-year running back Ashton Jeanty. Some might wonder why Baltimore declined Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last offseason, but at $23.4 million it would have cost over $5 million more than the league’s highest paid center, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey, and over $3 million than what Stanley got. DeCosta also said he is unlikely to use a franchise tag or transition tag this year. Because centers are grouped with all offensive linemen, that figure would be $27.9 million. Linderbaum is perhaps not the prototype physically, but his range and ability have long stood out. One agent familiar with the Ravens’ thinking estimated the former Iowa first-round pick could command something in the $22 million to $23 million range on the open market. If that proves accurate, the decision may come down to a familiar equation: a little more money elsewhere, or slightly less to remain in a place where the system and quarterback — Lamar Jackson — are already known quantities. Baltimore’s preference is obvious. “I think he’s the best center in the league,” first-year coach Jesse Minter said last week in Indianapolis. “I think he’s one of the best interior linemen in the league. He’s a major part of the team here, somebody we’d love to have back.” Whether that happens may become clearer quickly. If a deal isn’t reached before the start of the legal tampering period Monday, the Ravens could find themselves in a far more uncertain position. Here is a look at eight other top free agent priorities among the Ravens’ 19 unrestricted free agents and one restricted free agent. Chidobe Awuzie, CB DeCosta said cornerback Marlon Humphrey is expected to remain on the roster despite a difficult 2025 season and one of the league’s largest contracts per year at the position. Bringing Awuzie back would provide stability opposite young starter Nate Wiggins. His 75.3 coverage grade, per Pro Football Focus, ranked 15th among all cornerbacks last season. He also had seven pass breakups and 43 tackles. That production suggests he will cost more than the modest deal he signed a year ago, but an incentivized contract could make sense for both sides. Jake Hummel, LB Hummel quietly became a core special-teams presence, leading Baltimore in snaps and ranking second in tackles on the third phase. With fellow inside linebackers Jay Higgins IV and Chandler Martin, along with Teddye Buchanan, all coming off knee injuries he also would provide affordable depth and experience. This feels like an easy decision. Tyler Huntley, QB Given the square-peg-round-hole struggles of Cooper Rush in the Ravens’ offense last season — four interceptions, zero touchdowns, two losses — it’s unlikely the former Dallas Cowboys starter will be back. Baltimore can also save $2.1 million by designating him as a post-June1 release and save another $700,000 from a roster bonus if they make a move by March 15. That could also help clear the way for Huntley to return as Jackson’s backup. Huntley has familiarity with the scheme and with Jackson, and he played well enough in spot duty to suggest a reunion could make sense if the finances align. Dre’Mont Jones, OLB Jones is one of three outside linebackers on the roster (Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo) scheduled to become a free agent. Last season, he had seven sacks (though just 2 1/2 after being traded to Baltimore midway through the season) and 51 pressures, 32 of which came after he got to the Ravens in a mid-season trade. At 29, he’s also the most intriguing edge defender scheduled to hit the market from Baltimore’s roster. On one hand, a deal from another team approaching eight figures annually could push him beyond the Ravens’ comfort zone. The team’s approach could also depend on whether it explores bigger swings at pass rushers like Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby, or a more measured option such as Khalil Mack, who played under Minter last season with the Chargers. Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar, right, celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Bears. Kolar and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely could both leave the franchise in free agency, although Kolar is viewed as a more realistic returner given his lack of career receiving production. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Charlie Kolar, TE With the expectation that fellow tight end Isaiah Likely will depart for greener pastures that could see him potentially land an eight-figure per year deal, bringing back Kolar should be a priority. Baltimore extended Mark Andrews through the 2028 season with a team-friendly deal that includes a reasonable $7 million cap hit for 2026 after it couldn’t reach a deal with Likely, so Kolar returning to a team that figures to use a lot of two-tight end sets would be a boon for the offense, especially given his comfortability with Jackson. It’s possible that some team will offer Kolar around $7 million a year, so that could make things difficult for Baltimore given all the money it needs to spread around but betting on his athleticism, run blocking and ascending skills as a pass catcher would be wise. Keaton Mitchell, RB Mitchell, the team’s lone restricted free agent, is the lightning to Derrick Henry’s thunder. A low tender — a route Baltimore has taken before with players like Ar’Darius Washington — is also the most likely outcome, even if it leaves the door open for another team to test the waters. As an undrafted free agent, the low tender for Mitchell is worth just over $2.5 million but comes with no draft pick compensation should Baltimore choose not to match another team’s offer sheet. A second-round tender would net a second-round pick, but no team would pay that for a boutique player with an injury history and it would cost the Ravens just over $5.7 million. If another team swoops in, so be it. Their decision will also be influenced by how they view Justice Hill, who could be a salary cap casualty that would save just over $3 million. Jordan Stout, P Stout’s breakout year — leading the league in net average and earning All-Pro honors — complicates what once might have been a routine decision. The going rate for top punters exceeds $4 million annually, a meaningful number for a team already balancing several extensions. Still, he’s importantly also the holder on the field goal operation and the Ravens have already signed long snapper Nick Moore to an extension, so it’s seems all but certain they will do the same with Stout. Ravens punter Jordan Stout, shown during a 2025 preseason game, is in line for a lucrative contract after a career season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ar’Darius Washington, S The Ravens issued a low tender to Washington last offseason and when no team signed him to an offer sheet by the mid-April deadline he signed the tender with Baltimore for $3.26 million. That was also coming off a season in which he started 12 games, racked up 64 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. Then he suffered a torn Achilles during offseason workouts, wiping out most of his 2025 season before he worked hard to return late in the year. That should make for an easy decision to bring him back, especially with fellow safety Alohi Gilman, who struggled with his tackling, also slated to become a free agent. Having Washington back, along with Malaki Starks in his second year, would also allow All-Pro Kyle Hamilton to continue to be deployed in a variety of roles, including near the line of scrimmage. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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