Ian Rapoport Provides Insight on Tyler Linderbaum Contract Negotiations
General Manager Eric DeCosta said last week that the Ravens "strongly hope" to sign center Tyler Linderbaum to a contract extension, adding that "we've still got some work to do" to finalize a deal.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport provided some insight into the negotiations.
"They have tried to negotiate with him," Rapoport said on the “NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal” podcast. "Eric DeCosta, the way he does things is kind of like [Eagles GM] Howie Roseman, he's very aggressive and he will keep at it."
Rapoport noted that the Ravens and left tackle Ronnie Stanley agreed to a three-year contract extension two days before the start of free agency last year. Stanley was one of the league's top pending free agents, just as Linderbaum is this year.
The legal free agency tampering period begins on March 9.
Linderbaum's next contract could reset the market for centers. The Kansas City Chiefs' Creed Humphrey, who signed a four-year deal worth $72 million ($18 million per year) in 2024, is the league's highest-paid player at the position.
Mel Kiper Jr. Has Ravens Selecting a Different Wide Receiver in His Latest Mock Draft
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. is doubling down on the Ravens drafting a wide receiver in the first round.
In his second mock draft, Kiper has Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson going to the Ravens at No. 14. Kiper's original pick for Baltimore was USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
"The Ravens should bounce back in 2026, but they will be looking for a true outside receiver with the hands to soak in a bunch of Lamar Jackson targets," Kiper wrote. "Going with Tyson here would allow Zay Flowers to live in the slot – where he is at his best – and lift the whole offense. Tyson caught eight TD passes in 2025, and he excels on contested catches thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame and overall strength.
"It would be the sixth time that Baltimore took a pass catcher in the first round since 2015, but the team clearly needs more options in the pass game."
League Executive Suggests Replay Reversal on Isaiah Likely's Touchdown Catch Against Steelers Was Wrong
This certainly won't make Ravens fans feel any better, but NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent suggested the replay ruling that overturned a crucial touchdown catch by Isaiah Likely in a Week 14 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was incorrect.
Vincent said there were about five plays, including the one involving Likely, that were called on replay or replay assist that the league would probably like to have a do-over on.
"There was two plays in particular," Vincent said via The Washington Post's Mark Maske. "There was the Likely play . . . [during] Ravens-Steelers in the end zone. And then you had the one — there was a Jets play. But it was the Likely play that you go – that was interesting because of the third step and they were talking about the ball extended out. So it was: What constitutes that third act?"
The Likely play occurred with just under three minutes remaining and would have given the Ravens the lead if the touchdown catch hadn't been overturned. The Steelers ended up winning, 27-22, and seizing control of the AFC North.
"If the touchdown had counted, the Ravens probably would have won that game," Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote. "Change the result of that game, and the Ravens win the AFC North, as they would have finished tied with the Steelers in the standings and would have won the tiebreaker based on a better division record. If the Ravens had won the AFC North, John Harbaugh might still be their coach. Someone else would be coaching the Giants. A whole lot would be different."
How Kyle Pitts Receiving Franchise Tag Affects Likely
Speaking of Likely, with the Atlanta Falcons reportedly planning to use the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts, Likely is arguably the top tight end set to hit free agency.
Pending tight ends Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert, and David Njoku have proven track records, but they'll all be 30 or older at the start of the season. Likely turns 26 in April and has shown flashes of TE1 ability, which is why the market for him figures to be robust.
With the Ravens signing veteran tight end Mark Andrews to a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $39.3 million in December, and Likely saying recently that he wants to play for a team where he is "able to blossom," Likely could play in a different city next season.
"Likely is extremely close with Lamar Jackson, so it's hard to completely rule out a Baltimore return," The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec wrote. "However, over the past eight months, the Ravens made no progress in their efforts to extend Likely, and they've since paid Andrews. It would be extremely hard for them to have two guys making top-eight tight end money with all their needs elsewhere."
Jackson made it known on social media that he is hoping Likely doesn't go anywhere.
Tight end Charlie Kolar, 27, is also a pending free agent. With Pitts off the market, Pro Football Focus ranked Kolar as the third-best tight end in this year's free-agent class, behind only Goedert and Likely.
"Kolar has been identified by several people around the league as a guy who could get paid more in free agency than most think," Zrebiec wrote.
Former Raven Bradley Bozeman Announces His Retirement
Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman announced his retirement after eight seasons, the first four of which were with the Ravens.
Bozeman, a fan favorite and two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee during his time in Baltimore, was a sixth-round pick in 2018. He started every game at left guard in 2019 and 2020 before becoming the starting center in 2021.
Bozeman left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency in 2022 and spent two seasons with them before signing with the Chargers.
