The Baltimore Ravens appear to be set for a huge decision in the coming weeks, and it has nothing to do with Lamar Jackson, although his contract needs fixing.

But more so, one of Lamar’s best protectors along the offensive line.

Center Tyler Linderbaum, who is also a three-time Pro Bowler, is set to be a free agent, and after declining his fifth-year option, the Ravens now have two choices.

Let him walk for nothing or sign him to a long-term deal.

For CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, in his top 100 free agents, in which he has Linderbaum at No. 1, he offers Baltimore some rather pointed advice.

“He’s the best offensive lineman in this group and it’s not close,” Prisco writes. “The Ravens would be stupid to let him walk. At 26, he’s got a lot of good football left.”

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Lamar key to Linderbaum contract

That might seem odd to some, but Lamar’s contract is set to count $74.5 million against the cap in 2026, which would restrict the Ravens’ ability to bring in new talent and also to keep star players like Linderbaum.

A restructure of Jackson’s contract per Over The Cap would see the Ravens get $38 million in cap savings, so that’s a start, and it appears everything starts and stops with Lamar this offseason.

Allowing Linderbaum to walk out the door this offseason wouldn’t be the smartest move in the world for Baltimore, but until Lamar’s contract gets sorted, it remains a very real possibility.

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