If John Harbaugh is looking to bring a familiar face with him to New York, Tyler Linderbaum might just be the name at the top of his list. The standout center, now a free agent, is one of the most coveted players on the market-and for good reason.
Center may not grab headlines like quarterbacks or edge rushers, but anyone who’s watched Linderbaum anchor the Ravens' offensive line knows just how critical he is to a functioning offense. He’s not just good-he’s elite. A three-time Pro Bowler and widely regarded as one of the top centers in the league, Linderbaum was recently ranked the No. 3 overall free agent in the NFL by ESPN, trailing only pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and wideout George Pickens.
That’s rare air for a center, and it speaks volumes about Linderbaum’s impact on the game.
What makes him such a strong fit for the Giants? For starters, his athleticism and movement skills are tailor-made for New York’s zone and gap blocking schemes.
His 97.2% pass block win rate last season wasn’t just impressive-it tied for second among all qualifying centers in the league. That kind of consistency in protection is exactly what a young quarterback like Jaxson Dart needs to grow.
And that’s where the potential Harbaugh-Linderbaum reunion starts to make even more sense. Harbaugh knows exactly what he’s getting in Linderbaum: a tone-setter, a locker room leader, and a technician in the trenches. If the Giants want to stabilize their offensive line and give Dart the best chance to succeed, landing Linderbaum would be a massive step in the right direction.
Of course, there’s competition. The Raiders are also lurking as a possible landing spot.
With a young quarterback of their own likely on the way in Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas could use a rock-solid presence in the middle just as much as New York. Linderbaum’s physicality and football IQ would instantly raise the floor of any offensive line he joins.
But if Harbaugh can make this move happen, it would be a foundational piece for a Giants offense in need of stability and leadership. Linderbaum isn’t just a plug-and-play center-he’s the kind of guy you build around.