The Baltimore Ravens are getting an excellent return from the first-round draft capital they invested in Tyler Linderbaum in 2022, with the interior offensive lineman now sneaking into the top 10 at his position, despite being limited in one area, but “maybe the best center in the NFL” in another key facet of the game.
That’s according to intel gathered by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler about the league’s most dominant interior blockers. Fowler spoke with one unnamed “veteran NFL defensive coach” who stated Linderbaum “can do anything you want in the run game.”
The defensive coach also believes the man over the ball for the Ravens is “Maybe the best center in the NFL in terms of that. A bit limited in pass pro, but you felt him in the run game — strong and physical.”
Fowler actually disputed the note of caution about Linderbaum’s skills in pass-protection, by pointing out “It’s hard to argue with Linderbaum’s 96.5 pass block win rate, though some evaluators say his shorter arms (31⅛ inches) show up in one-on-one settings.”
Perhaps those struggles handling individual matchups are why Linderbaum needed to win “a tiebreaker with Carolina guard Robert Hunt” to make the top 10. Having to sneak into the ranks of the elite shows there’s still an undercurrent of doubt about Linderbaum that maybe explains why the Ravens neglected to make a key decision about his contract.
Ravens Starter Still Has to Prove Doubters Wrong
A center with a 90-plus percent win rate against pass-rushers being considered weak in that area is judged by different, tougher standards. Linderbaum can point to the maturation of two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson as a passer as proof of his credentials protecting the pocket.
As one “senior NFL scout” put it to Fowler, Linderbaum ticks boxes for “Initial quickness, angles, every intangible, takes mental pressure off [Lamar Jackson].”
Linderbaum proved his worth during Week 1’s narrow defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, when he surrendered just a single pressure, per PFF BAL Ravens.
For the season, PFF credited Linderbaum with not allowing one sack, yielding just 16 pressures and giving up a mere three quarterback hits.
Ultimately, the debate about Linderbaum’s chops as a pass-blocker is immaterial. As Fowler learned, his true value lies in what he does on the ground.
It’s why general manager Eric DeCosta must find the money to pay the player he traded up to draft for the long term.
Ravens Must Secure Tyler Linderbaum’s Future
The Ravens can’t afford not to make sure Linderbaum spends the majority, if not all, of his career at M&T Bank Stadium. Few centers in the league are as integral to a team’s identity on offense as he’s become.
Identity for the Ravens still means beating up defenses in the running game, a job Linderbaum is uniquely qualified to perform. No. 64 wins in every way, including raw power, like he did by engulfing Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Michael Hall to help spring Derrick Henry for this 25-yard run.
Dominating his block with straight-ahead brute force makes Linderbaum an ideal lead convoy for Henry, who still loves to make gains between the tackles. Yet, what makes Linderbaum so important is the flexibility he lends offensive coordinator Todd Monken to mix things up on the deck.
Monken can call outside sweeps like this one run by Keaton Mitchell in 2023, highlighted by Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn. The concept only works because Monken has a center athletic enough to pull into space and quickly get to the second level with violent intent.
A play like this shows the Ravens why they must find the money needed to keep Linderbaum around beyond the final year of his rookie deal. DeCosta can’t risk waiting for a change in the rules to make it happen.
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