The New England Patriots are entering the 2026 NFL offseason with some clear needs. Coming in towards the top of that list is the offensive line, which struggled mightily throughout the playoffs. The best offensive lineman who is set to hit the open market is center Tyler Linderbaum, but the Baltimore Ravens may have other plans.

Last offseason, the Ravens managed to sign star left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million contract extension right before he hit the open market. This was a big blow for the Pats, as they were widely expected to make a run at Stanley. This time around, New England could show interest in Linderbaum, but once again, Baltimore is hoping to prevent him from hitting the open market.

“The Ravens remain hopeful they can get a deal done with C Tyler Linderbaum before he reaches the open market, just like they did last year with LT Ronnie Stanley, per sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported in a post on X. “Linderbaum is generating a ton of buzz from teams I’ve spoken to. If he reaches the open market, the expectation is he could land a deal north of $22M per year.”

After earning three straight Pro Bowl selections, Linderbaum, who will turn just 26 years old in April, is set to earn a huge contract this offseason. While the Pats received solid play from Garrett Bradbury at center last season, Linderbaum is an upgrade who could fill the position for the foreseeable future.

Whether or not New England is as interested in Linderbaum as it was in Stanley last offseason is unknown, but the front office is expected to poke around for upgrades across its offensive line in free agency. Linderbaum is the best option of the bunch, but if things go according to plan for the Ravens, the Patriots may not even have a shot to offer him a contract.

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