An ideal free agent candidate could hit the open market for the Detroit Lions this offseason in center Tyler Linderbaum. But to sign him, it won’t be cheap.
That’s what NFL insider Rickey Scoops suggested this week. Rickey posted Thursday on X that Linderbaum was seeking a contract worth roughly $20 million per season last year.
Such a contract would make Linderbaum the highest-paid center in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey currently owns that title with an average annual salary of $18 million per season according to Spotrac.
After losing former All-Pro center Frank Ragnow to retirement, the Lions offensive line took a step back in 2025. That makes adding an immediate upgrade at center such as Linderbaum a dream scenario for Detroit.
But Linderbaum is likely to be expensive because of the amount of suitors he could have. The Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and several other teams could be interested in signing the center when free agency begins on March 11.
Why the Lions Could Sign Tyler Linderbaum
The Lions missed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left for the Chicago Bears head coaching job, in 2025. However, they arguably missed Ragnow even more.
From 2020-24, Ragnow was one of the top five centers every year in the NFL according to the Pro Football Focus player grades. For most of those five seasons, the PFF grades ranked Ragnow in the top 3 centers.
During that five-year stretch, Ragnow earned four Pro Bowl nominations and made second-team All-Pro three times.
In 2025, veteran interior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow replaced Ragnow. The PFF player grades ranked Glasgow 47th out of 59 lineman who took snaps at center this past season.
Clearly, Glasgow left something to be desired, and is a potential cut candidate this spring. If the Lions bring back Glasgow, it should be to move him back to guard.
At center, the Lions could find a player close to Ragnow’s former self in Linderbaum, who has made each of the last three Pro Bowls.
In 2025, Linderbaum posted the fifth-best PFF player grade among all centers.
Free Agent Competition Lions Could Face for Linderbaum
As a former first-round pick, Linderbaum could have remainder under contract in Baltimore next season. But the Ravens declined the fifth-year option on Linderbaum’s deal last May.
Baltimore made that choice, though, because Linderbaum would have cost $23.4 million on the fifth year of his deal. That’s $5.4 million more than Humphrey, the highest-paid center in the NFL.
The Ravens are very likely going to try to re-sign the 25-year-old. If they are successful, the Lions won’t even have a crack at him.
If Linderbaum makes it to free agency, though, the Lions could be in a long line of suitors for the center. The Giants are likely to be one too, as new Giants head coach John Harbaugh coached Linderbaum with the Ravens.
A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton called the Ravens and Giants the top free agency competition with Linderbaum for Detroit. But many other teams with cap space and 2025 offensive line issues such as the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers could pursue him too.
Linderbaum has started 66 games over his four-year NFL career. He started every game for the Ravens during the 2022, 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
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