The Los Angeles Chargers are slated to have $83 million in cap space this offseason, giving general manager Joe Hortiz a golden opportunity to bolster a roster that once again failed to win a playoff game.
One position Hortiz should look to upgrade is center, as Bradley Bozeman had a rough 2025 campaign and clearly isn’t cut out to be the team’s starting center in 2026.
Luckily for the Chargers, one of the best centers in football, Tyler Linderbaum, is set to hit the market, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones expects Los Angeles to pursue the Baltimore Ravens free agent offensive lineman.
“Sources expect he [Linderbaum] would be a top target for the Chargers if Baltimore can’t retain him,” Jones wrote.
Linderbaum is one of the best pass-protecting centers in football, allowing just five sacks in the first four seasons while playing over 1,000 snaps in each year as well.
Signing Linderbaum, who is projected to land a $70 million contract over four seasons according to Spotrac, would be a home run move by the Chargers. The 25-year-old would be a long-term starter for Los Angeles and protect the interior at a high level for quarterback Justin Herbert.
However, the Ravens will be first in line to retain Linderbaum. It would be wise for Baltimore to keep their star offensive lineman, as he’s been one of the most consistent players on the team’s offense over the last few years.
The franchise tag could also be an option for the Ravens, but Linderbaum has earned a lucrative contract after years of fantastic play. We’ll see if he returns to Baltimore or goes elsewhere, like Los Angeles, to start a new chapter.
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