Tyler Linderbaum Should Be a Top Target for Jets in Free Agency

It appears that the Baltimore Ravens will allow center Tyler Linderbaum to hit the free agent market, and, if he does, he should be near the top of the list for the New York Jets.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, it appears one of the best centers in the NFL might be testing free agency come March, and it very much appears to be like the second season of Bill Parcells.

When the Ravens declined his fifth-year option in the spring, that enhanced his chances for free agency. -- Fowler

In 1998, the Jets had just begun a turnaround. They were 1-15 in 1996, and the Big Tuna came to town. Immediately, the Jets went from one win to nine. Then, Parcells and the Jets went to work. Seattle Seahawks center Kevin Mawae hit the free agent market, and the Jets signed Mawae to a five-year, $17 million contract. (Reminder: the NFL salary cap was $52.388 million in 1998.)

He ended up playing seven seasons with the Jets. He earned two First Team All-Pro selections, and he was voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his final six seasons.

Linderbaum is one of the best centers in the NFL, and it would give me some pause if Baltimore were to just let him go. However, if they do, and the Jets feel like there’s no red flag there, they should absolutely pounce.

Here’s how I would construct the contract:

Current Top-Five NFL Averages

Average AAV: $14,700,000
Average Total Guarantees: $36,932,200
Average Fully Guaranteed at Signing: $26,187,200
2026 Cash Value: $11,700,000
2027 Cash Value: $14,000,000

So, what I did was this. I gave Linderbaum a minimum base salary in 2026-27, and gave him a signing bonus of $10,485,000 in 2026 and an option bonus of $12,740,000 in 2027. 2026-27 are fully guaranteed at signing. 2028 is guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.

The fully guaranteed at signing is slightly less than the top-five centers in the NFL at $25,700,000. However, the total guarantees dwarf the top-five average with that being at $40,700,000.

Here’s how it looks on paper:

Barring anything going completely awry before 2029, here are the dead cap charges:

2029: $11,838,000 ($4,645,000 Post-June 1)
2030: $7,193,000 ($4,645,000 Post-June 1)

The rankings for each category would be as follows:

AAV: 3rd
Total Guaranteed: 3rd
Fully Guaranteed: 4th
2026 Cash: 4th
2027 Cash: 3rd

That contract would be good for both sides, and it would lock in Linderbaum for at least three seasons for the Jets. If they also bring back Alijah Vera-Tucker for one more season, they could then not be pressured into drafting an offensive lineman for in the 2026 NFL draft and could focus on other areas.

If he hits the market, the Jets should push hard to sign him to help solidify their offensive line for a long time.