The Las Vegas Raiders came into this offseason knowing they needed to improve up front on the offensive line and they were not shy about addressing that need with one of the NFL’s premier interior offensive linemen.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders agreed to a three-year deal with former Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum that made him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history:
ESPN Sources: former Ravens free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum reached agreement today on a record deal with the Raiders, who are awarding him with a three-year, $81 million deal that includes $60 million guaranteed and makes him the highest paid interior offensive lineman in NFL… pic.twitter.com/8oWmOroNBA
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
Linderbaum has been one of the best centers in the league for the past couple of seasons now, making the Pro Bowl each of the past three years. He excels in the run game as he has consistently been one of the highest-graded run blockers by PFF amongst centers since entering the league as a first-round pick of the Ravens in 2022.
This is huge for the Raiders who ranked dead last in rushing last season despite taking running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bringing in Linderbaum should have a major impact for Jeanty and the Raiders offense as a whole after what was a woeful attack last season.
With both Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith being free agents, some changes on the interior were expected and the Raiders being willing to spend big has now got them one of the best centers in the league, and someone to build around in the trenches.
Raiders trade for veteran CB Taron Johnson
The Raiders have also been making moves on the other side of the ball, sending a sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for veteran cornerback Taron Johnson.
