OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens declined the fifth-year option on Tyler Linderbaum on Wednesday, but they intend to retain the two-time Pro Bowl center.
The decision to not pick up Linderbaum's option is based on the unusually high financial commitment, and not performance. Linderbaum's fifth-year option would have been $23.4 million in 2026, which would have been $5.4 million more than the NFL's highest-paid center in terms of average per year.
Linderbaum, 25, has quickly become one of the NFL's best centers as well as one of Baltimore's top leaders. He is now entering the final year of his rookie contract and can become an unrestricted free agent in March if the Ravens don't sign him to a contract extension.