With John Harbaugh officially taking the reins in New York, the Giants are entering a full-scale transformation - and that starts with personnel. From the coaching staff to the locker room, everything is on the table.
Harbaugh isn’t just bringing a new playbook; he’s bringing a philosophy. And part of that philosophy includes surrounding himself with players who already understand what he’s about - culture carriers who can help translate his vision into results on the field.
One name that’s quickly emerged as a potential cornerstone of that rebuild? Tyler Linderbaum.
The 25-year-old center has been a rock for the Ravens and could become the centerpiece of Harbaugh’s offensive line in New York. According to reports, the Giants are expected to be aggressive in free agency, particularly when it comes to targeting former Ravens. That makes Linderbaum, a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the league’s top run-blocking centers, a name to watch closely.
Why Linderbaum Fits the Giants’ New Identity
Linderbaum isn’t just a good player - he’s an elite one, especially in the run game. His 89.5 run-blocking grade over the past two seasons ranks fourth among all NFL centers, and his 80.2 overall grade last season speaks to a level of consistency and dominance that’s rare at his position. He’s physical, technically sound, and plays with the kind of edge Harbaugh loves in his linemen.
And while his pass protection hasn’t been quite as dominant - he gave up two sacks and 27 pressures on 536 pass-blocking snaps in 2025 - that flaw was largely masked in Baltimore’s run-heavy offense. With Todd Monken, the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, expected to join Harbaugh in New York, the Giants could be replicating a similar scheme. That’s a system Linderbaum already thrives in.
Durability? Check.
Linderbaum has missed just two games in four seasons. Leadership?
Check. He’s already been a tone-setter in Baltimore.
If the Giants are looking for a linchpin to help turn around an offensive line that’s struggled to find its footing, Linderbaum checks every box.
What It Means for John Michael Schmitz
There’s no way around it - bringing in Linderbaum would raise big questions about the future of John Michael Schmitz. The 2023 second-round pick showed some signs of growth last season, posting a career-high 64.5 grade despite dealing with a finger injury that landed him on IR. But consistency has been an issue, and the leap from “flashes of potential” to “long-term starter” hasn’t quite happened yet.
Could Schmitz move to guard? It’s possible, but not guaranteed.
More likely, adding Linderbaum would push Schmitz into a backup role, and that would be a tough pill to swallow for a front office that used a top-50 pick on him just a few years ago. Still, if the goal is to build a dominant offensive line, sometimes tough decisions have to be made - and Linderbaum represents a significant upgrade.
The Price Tag - and the Cap Math
Of course, elite talent doesn’t come cheap. Linderbaum is projected to command a contract in the neighborhood of $17.7 million per year, with a total deal potentially reaching $71 million over four years. That would put him among the highest-paid centers in the NFL, right behind Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey.
For the Giants, who currently have just about $1 million in cap space for 2026, making room for a big-money center won’t be easy. They’re projected to have over $100 million in cap space for 2027, but that doesn’t help much in the short term unless they make some major moves to clear room.
Still, if Harbaugh sees Linderbaum as a foundational piece - and all signs point to that - the Giants may find a way to make it work. The investment would be steep, but the payoff could be enormous: a stabilizing force in the middle of the line, a leader in the locker room, and a player who can help usher in a new era of Giants football.
Building a New Identity
This isn’t just about adding a talented player. It’s about creating a new identity - one rooted in toughness, discipline, and execution.
That’s the Harbaugh way. And to build that culture, he needs players who already understand it.
Linderbaum fits that mold. He knows the system.
He knows the expectations. And if the Giants can land him, they won’t just be upgrading their offensive line - they’ll be planting a flag in the ground for the kind of team they want to become.
The road back to contention won’t be easy. But if Harbaugh wants to build something sustainable in New York, it starts in the trenches. And Tyler Linderbaum could be the first brick in that foundation.