We Got Linderbaum

[Attyla]

bam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SkullCrusher]

We're hoping for Rodney Hudson 2.0:

Rodney Hudson was objectively the "better" or more impactful addition at the time the Raiders acquired him, largely due to his established elite status and immediate stabilization of the offensive line. While Tyler Linderbaum (as of March 2026 reports) is considered a top-tier young talent, Hudson was considered the best in the league at his position when he signed in 2015.


Rodney Hudson (Signed 2015)

Status at Signing: Considered one of the best centers in the NFL, coming off a high grade from Pro Football Focus with the Chiefs.

Impact: Immediately anchored the Raiders' offensive line, becoming a team leader (four-time Commitment to Excellence Award winner) and a cornerstone for a 12-win team in 2016.

Performance: He was the top pass-blocking center in the NFL for multiple seasons with the Raiders.

Contract: 5 years, $44.5 million ($8.9M APY), which made him the highest-paid center in NFL history at the time.


Tyler Linderbaum (Projected Signing 2026)

Status at Signing: A young (25), three-time Pro Bowl center with high-level pedigree.

Projected Impact: Expected to be a long-term solution and "anchor" similar to Hudson, particularly in elevating a run-reliant offense.

Performance: Ranked highly in pass block win rate and PFF graded him as a superior run blocker.

Contract: Projected to be the highest-paid center in NFL history, with offers exceeding $20 million per season.

[FLORIDARAYDAH]

That's a lot of money but it's the only way we were going to get him. Huge position of need and is still young. Great signing for our new QB.

[DrDUne]

[SkullCrusher]

Rogers fills one of the guard spots.

I hear you, it does suck we don't know more about him due to lack of playtime last year.

A big part of me says Ioane, but maybe we should be looking T at 14.

I wonder what the Raiders right now think of Rogers.

If I over-do a position, make it OL every time.

Edit: I've been watching a lot of old time Raiders for a while now.
It's not really something new but anytime we were good, we had a very good OL.
Also in '79 we started Casper at TE, Chester and Branch at WR, I found that interesting.
Also watching the old games, we win almost every time!
The playoff game against the Oilers in '80 had Stabler, Casper and Tatum on it. I recall Stabler, but didn't recall Casper and Tatum.

[DanKD]

I hear you, it does suck we don't know more about him due to lack of playtime last year.

A big part of me says Ioane, but maybe we should be looking T at 14.

I wonder what the Raiders right now think of Rogers.

If I over-do a position, make it OL every time.

Of all the lineman Spytek singled him out by name when talking about players working hard this off-season and having potential

[raidersince63]

Holy crap...I'll be honest, I thought he was a pipe dream because I was sure the Ravens would step up to the pump and overpay in order to keep him.

Seems clear to me that Spytek & Co. clearly know what they're doing and have a solid plan moving forward, and this clearly was not simply throwing money at a problem or need.


Welcome to the dark side, Lindy !

[chucker]

I don't know how many months I've been ranting about Linderbaum as my #1 FA target - so I'm really happy right now. He's "overpaid" for his execution of his individual blocking assignment. Where he generates more value is in getting the line working as a unit - especially in today's game when it isn't just 4 dlinemen lining up and trying to beat the man across from them. We have sucked at picking up stunts for so long, it's time for a change in process. LFG.

[NoThanksSir]

I'm actually not expecting him to be worth the price, just do his job and we feel good about him.
It's just one of those situations you get into, that price doesn't tell the whole story.
We have to fix the Oline, we have to protect Mendoza and make holes for Jeanty.
There's really nothing else that has to be done right now that is more important.

It's 3 years and unless he's all world, we probably get him or his replacement for more normal C prices.

While I agree with your sentiment, I'm not convinced Linderbaum's contract will "justify the means." I'm pretty much talking about how his number doesn't tell the whole story, and paying him 'whatever' will hurt the larger picture. There are 5 positions on the OL, skill positions, and a whole other side of the roster to construct. My point is that I would have preferred some of the available guards over him, and being more frugal at center since we could easily solve it with a pick in the 3-5th range. But if the final result is in Mendoza staying upright I won't really complain. This was the first step and I'm skeptical of it working out, but we will see.

[Be_Easy_25]

[raidersince63]

Just saw this...evidently the Chargers fans are bigger homers than any of us....funny stuff.

... just goes to prove that if someone tries hard enough, they can find a way to justify just about anything.

https://boltbeat.com/chargers-clear-win ... um-overpay

Chargers are clear winners of the Raiders' Tyler Linderbaum overpay

Another spring, another splash, another laugh for Chargers fans.
By;
Jason Reed

Tyler Linderbaum was a wish-listed name that LA Chargers fans kept a close eye on heading into NFL free agency. However, as it became more apparent that Linderbaum would shatter the existing center market, the signing itself became less palatable.

As such, the Chargers worked quickly to sign Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million contract before free agency began. He doesn't have the same ceiling as Linderbaum, but at that price, the impact may be just as big as the Chargers can use the financial savings to make other additions.

Linderbaum himself wasted no time cashing out once the legal tampering window opened on Monday. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Linderbaum agreed to a three-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. It may seem painful for Chargers fans at first, but in reality, all this does is justify what the Bolts have done to this point.

Chargers fans should be laughing at Raiders' Tyler Linderbaum signing

To be clear, this isn't an indictment of Linderbaum as a player. He is a great young center and we have been on the record and said as much here on Bolt Beat. It would be disingenuous to build up Linderbaum as a target only to pretend like he can't play now that he is on the Raiders.

However, the Chargers and Raiders are in very different positions. Los Angeles is much more of a finished product with the pillars of Super Bowl contention in place. It still would have been a pretty big overpay to give Linderbaum that much money, but if there is a team that can justify it, it's a contending team.

The Raiders aren't in the same place. They have been an NFL bottom feeder for years, that spring after spring convinces itself it has found the new formula to instant success. From Josh McDaniel all the way to Geno Smith and Pete Carroll, everything the Raiders have tried has failed.

And yes, there is more promise this year than in previous years because they have the No. 1 overall pick and Fernando Mendoza. They have young offensive weapons and a head coach who just won the Super Bowl as an offensive coordinator. Vegas also has a lot of draft capital after trading away Maxx Crosby, which helps the rebuild.

But that's just the problem: Does signing Linderbaum improve a bad Raiders defense that just lost its best player? No. This is a Raiders roster with a lot of holes, and just like they did with Chandler Jones and Christian Wilkins in the past, the Raiders spent a large chunk of their capital on one player.

That strategy has not worked for the Raiders multiple times now, and it's hard to imagine it working now, regardless of how talented Linderbaum is. This is a team that is a few years away from actually contending, and that's assuming Mendoza can actually make the leap to the NFL and Klint Kubiak can be a good head coach.

Will Linderbaum be an upgrade at center and improve the offensive line? Undoubtedly. Was it the best way for the Raiders to spend their cap space? Probably not.

[WNYRAIDER]

I don't know how many months I've been ranting about Linderbaum as my #1 FA target - so I'm really happy right now. He's "overpaid" for his execution of his individual blocking assignment. Where he generates more value is in getting the line working as a unit - especially in today's game when it isn't just 4 dlinemen lining up and trying to beat the man across from them. We have sucked at picking up stunts for so long, it's time for a change in process. LFG.

....to be fair, i'll bet that flushing the trd that is pete's kid will improve the line before linderbaum even makes I t to vegas......

[raiderjohn]

Of all the lineman Spytek singled him out by name when talking about players working hard this off-season and having potential

Spytek drafted Rogers and Grant, they will get chances from this staff. Spytek won't move on from either until they get a shot.

[BotesBoats]

Pretty saddened not getting any of the somewhat larger named pass rushers available. Cameron Thomas is now off the market. Not really sure whos left that can genuinely make an impact to help replace Maxx's production numbers. I probably forgot a name or two available, but I've see a ton of names scooped up thus far.

Unless we're getting Hendrickson. But I would have assumed Linderbaum's large contract will take us out of the Trey race.

[chucker]

I love to see JPJ react like this. I really like JPJ, just not at center. I hope he embraces being a beast at guard because I think he has the ability to be one of the best there if he stays healthy.

[islandboy]

Holy crap...I'll be honest, I thought he was a pipe dream because I was sure the Ravens would step up to the pump and overpay in order to keep him.

Seems clear to me that Spytek & Co. clearly know what they're doing and have a solid plan moving forward, and this clearly was not simply throwing money at a problem or need.


Welcome to the dark side, Lindy !

I like dealing with the Ravens.

Maxx for 2 1sr draft picks. Frees up cap space.

Use freed up cap space to sign the anchor of Ravens OL. Hopefully impacting their whole team for a better draft pick in 2027.