{"id":746050,"date":"2026-02-12T01:47:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T01:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/746050\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T01:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T01:47:17","slug":"tyler-linderbaum-should-be-the-giants-top-free-agent-target-the-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/746050\/","title":{"rendered":"Tyler Linderbaum Should Be the Giants&#8217; Top Free Agent Target \u2013 The Lead"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Free agency is creeping up on the New York Giants, and they have a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n<p>With the addition of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, it\u2019s clear that he wants to bring in as many of his former players and coaches as possible. Three-time Pro Bowl center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LindTy00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tyler Linderbaum<\/a> should be the top target among Harbaugh\u2019s former players in New York\u2019s sights.<\/p>\n<p>But with the Giants having some core pieces of their 2025 roster hitting the open market, along with other intriguing free agents, should Linderbaum be the G-Men\u2019s top priority?<\/p>\n<p>Linderbaum a Top Name for Multiple Teams<\/p>\n<p>The star center is clearly a <a href=\"https:\/\/giantswire.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/giants\/2026\/02\/05\/new-york-giants-expected-pursue-tyler-linderbaum-free-agency\/88524392007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">top target<\/a> for New York, but with his established name and talent, the Giants won\u2019t be the only team willing to pay a high price for him. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/free-agents\/analysis\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Spotrac<\/a>, Linderbaum\u2019s market value is nearly $18 million per year.<\/p>\n<p>Despite their 4-13 record, New York has limited cap space, with only about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/new-york-giants\/overview\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$7 million<\/a>. However, they can create <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bigblue_data\/status\/2021646324383236358\" rel=\"nofollow\">significant financial flexibility<\/a> by cutting a handful of players and restructuring some of their larger contracts.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">How the Giants can potentially create more than $74 million in cap space, according to Connor Hughes.<\/p>\n<p>Restructure\/extending:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcb0 Brian Burns<br \/>\ud83d\udcb0 Andrew Thomas<br \/>\ud83d\udcb0 Jevon Holland<\/p>\n<p>Releasing:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc4b Bobby Okereke<br \/>\ud83d\udc4b Jon Runyan Jr. <br \/>\ud83d\udc4b James Hudson <br \/>\ud83d\udc4b Devin Singletary <br \/>\ud83d\udc4b Graham Gano<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Big Blue Data Room (@bigblue_data) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bigblue_data\/status\/2021646324383236358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">February 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>With this in mind, taking a big swing on a proven player like Linderbaum would be a great move. He has been the interior anchor of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/ask\/team-most-rushing-yards-per-game-since-2022?l=nfl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best<\/a> rushing team in the league since he entered the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A boost in New York\u2019s run blocking would be pivotal. Both of the Giants\u2019 tackles are more pass-pro oriented, and even though the interior line improved last season, there is a lot of room for growth, especially from center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MichJo00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">John Michael Schmitz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">PFF on free agent Tyler Linderbaum:<\/p>\n<p>He &#8220;has proven to be one of the NFL\u2019s premier run blockers on the interior, earning above a 78.0 PFF run-blocking grade in each season. Over that span, he\u2019s proven to be elite regardless of scheme.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2hCe7ITRlB\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/2hCe7ITRlB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Big Blue Film Room (@BigBlueFilmRoom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BigBlueFilmRoom\/status\/2019081775230636350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A superstar in the middle of the trenches would make the Giants, who averaged the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/ask\/team-most-rushing-yards-per-game-in-2025?l=nfl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">fifth-most<\/a> rushing yards per game in 2025, in contention for the top spot.<\/p>\n<p>Giants Need to Bring Back Multiple Key Players<\/p>\n<p>Aside from trying to make an offseason splash, New York needs to bring back some of the best players from their 2025 season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/E\/ElueJe00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jermaine Eluemunor<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Eluemunor has helped revolutionize the Giants\u2019 offensive line. PFF graded him <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/nfl\/players\/jermaine-eluemunor\/11914#gradesWidget\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">20th<\/a> among tackles in pass protection while only making up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/21901\/jermaine-eluemunor\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">3.29%<\/a> of the cap.<\/p>\n<p>At 31 years old, the 2017 draft pick should not break the bank. Spotrac places his market value at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/21901\/jermaine-eluemunor\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$8.7 million<\/a> per year. With the production he brought to New York in his two seasons with the team, it should not be a difficult decision to try to bring him back.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/F\/FlotCo00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cordale Flott<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Flott\u2019s breakout 2025 season made him all the more desirable to bring back. In an injury-riddled defensive backfield, he was the one constant bright spot.<\/p>\n<p>He allowed just a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/F\/FlotCo00.htm#all_adv_defense\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">52.5%<\/a> completion percentage while being targeted, a 73.3 passer rating when being targeted, and 11 pass deflections, all being significant career bests.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Still only 24 years old, taking a bet on a projected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/76957\/cordale-flott\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$9.5 million<\/a> annual contract should be well worth it for a New York team that has significantly struggled finding and keeping defensive back talent.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It&#8217;s about time we start takling about bringing back Cor&#8217;Dale Flott.<\/p>\n<p>The Broncos tried to target him repeatedly and he was just not having it. He allowed only 2 completions on 10 targets, registering 3 passes defended and had a huge TFL.<\/p>\n<p>Only 24, he&#8217;s an emerging NFL CB. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qDQ4ajTFRt\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/qDQ4ajTFRt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Football Grump (@football_grump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/football_grump\/status\/1980699650203259038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">October 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RobiWa01.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wan\u2019Dale Robinson<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Robinson is another Giant who had a career year in 2025; he became the shortest receiver in NFL history to record a 1,000-yard season and was a safety blanket for New York all season.<\/p>\n<p>Although his production was impressive, paying Robinson a projected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/76919\/wandale-robinson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$17.6 million<\/a> annually is a steep price.<\/p>\n<p>He is a good run-after-catch threat with an occasional downfield catch, but his short wingspan makes his catch radius one of the smallest in the league. The choice to keep the former Wildcat becomes increasingly difficult when considering the stellar receivers in the 2026 draft and other free agents.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s clear he is a viable weapon and a good slot receiver, but his limitations should make the Giants very hesitant to give him a high-end deal.<\/p>\n<p>Who Are the Other Free Agent Options?<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PierAl00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Alec Pierce<\/a><\/p>\n<p>With 1,003 yards on just 47 catches, it\u2019s safe to say Pierce has a downfield presence. At 6\u20193\u2033, with exceptional hands and contested catch abilities, he will bring an element to New York that is desperately needed.<\/p>\n<p>Their current top deep threat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/S\/SlayDa01.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Darius Slayton<\/a>\u00a0doesn\u2019t possess the aggression at the catch point that Pierce has, and if they had him last season, a few of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DartJa00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jaxson Dart<\/a>\u2018s electric deep balls may have been completed.<\/p>\n<p>At 25 years old, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/76929\/alec-pierce\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$81 million<\/a> contract would be a worthy investment if some of their other deals go south.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/S\/SettTi00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tim Settle<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Houston Texans\u2019 defensive tackle is exactly the player the Giants are looking for. Settle can take up a lot of space in the run game and draw double teams, something New York is desperate for.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There was a clear lack of push next to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LawrDe03.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Dexter Lawrence<\/a> last season, a critical reason for his down season and the overall poor play of New York\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PassRushDiary\/status\/2019227930799550965\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">31st-ranked<\/a> run defense.<\/p>\n<p>At a projected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/25264\/tim-settle\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$3.7 million<\/a> per year, it isn\u2019t a flashy move, but it would take a lot of pressure off of Lawrence and add to the depth of the interior.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RhyaSe00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sean Rhyan<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The combo interior lineman would likely be a replacement for free agent guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/V\/VanRGr00.htm?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Greg Van Roten<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=RunyJo00,RunyJo20&amp;search=Jon+Runyan&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=theleadsm.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-02-11_pfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jon Runyan<\/a>. Rhyan is best at creating running lanes and making seamless switches on stunts.<\/p>\n<p>Switching defenders in general and on stunts was one of the Giants\u2019 biggest problems; now, with Rhyan, he can play both guard positions and offer some stability in the interior at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/market-value\/_\/id\/76968\/sean-rhyan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">$6.5 million<\/a> per year.<\/p>\n<p>With the number of problems the New York Giants have and the possibilities of their cap space, anything can happen in this free agency.<\/p>\n<p>            <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Free agency is creeping up on the New York Giants, and they have a lot of work to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":746051,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2067],"tags":[7,519,1917,56,2321,2469,6,7427],"class_list":{"0":"post-746050","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york-giants","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-giants","10":"tag-new-york","11":"tag-new-york-giants","12":"tag-newyork","13":"tag-newyorkgiants","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-tyler-linderbaum"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116055142852969844","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/746050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=746050"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/746050\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/746051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=746050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=746050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=746050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}