We’ve already seen the Baltimore Ravens make wholesale changes this offseason. First, they changed head coaches, going from the proven John Harbaugh to the unproven Todd Monken. Eventually, there will be big roster changes ahead too, possibly even saying goodbye to a Pro Bowl talent like Tyler Linderbaum.
The three-time Pro Bowl center is set to be a free agent for the first time in his NFL career. Still just 25, Linderbaum may be set to be the highest-paid center in the league. Right now, that honor belongs to Creed Humphrey, who is earning an average of $18 million per season from the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the Ravens decide Linderbaum isn’t worth the market value, they’ll have to find a new starting center. Recently, Sports Boom’s Jason La Canfora suggested the Ravens should consider signing Connor McGovern in free agency.
“Badly in need of offensive line fortification, the Ravens are eyeing former Bills and Cowboys standout Connor McGovern as a replacement, with Linderbaum expected to land one of the more lucrative deals on the NFL open market.”
Sports Boom’s Jason La Canfora on Connor McGovern
Like Linderbaum, McGovern is a Pro Bowl center. McGovern is still just 28 years old, and he could wind up being a multi-year solution in Baltimore at a reduced cost compared to Linderbaum. Spotrac projects McGovern to command a salary worth $16.3 million, and Linderbaum is projected to sign for $17.7 million per season.
Of course, these are only projections. Once players hit the open market, numbers tend to inflate. That could be the case with the center market too.
Related: Los Angeles Chargers Linked to Pro Bowl Replacement to Solve Biggest Need
