Now that offensive coordinator-hopeful Todd Monken has opted for greener pastures as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns... is the grass green in Cleveland? Do they even have grass?
While my knowledge about Northeast Ohio vegetation is seemingly limited, my ability to put two and two together, especially when it comes to free agents and their next stops, is not. Enter upcoming Baltimore Ravens free agent center, Tyler Linderbaum.
Typically, 25-year-olds with three Pro Bowl nods in their first four seasons are priority signings. But apparently, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta’s been too busy at the crabcake buffet. So when Baltimore declined Tyler Linderbaum’s fifth-year option, it wasn’t exactly a shock -- it would’ve paid him about $5 million more than the league’s highest-paid center, Creed Humphrey. There hasn't been much on the extension talks front, leading many to believe the University of Iowa product is heading towards the open market. Don't expect the 2022 25th-overall pick to come cheap.
There won’t be a shortage of teams lining up for the 6-foot-2, 304-pounder -- very much including the Giants, now led by former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. But with the Browns hiring ex-Ravens OC Todd Monken as their new head coach, the (Linder)-Bomb might not be as likely to land in East Rutherford as once hoped.
Giants’ chances at Tyler Linderbaum may have taken a Todd Monken-sized hit
John Michael Schmitz currently occupies the starting center position, but it's painfully obvious he isn't fit for the role. According to Pro Football Focus, the 2023 second-round pick out of Minnesota has never ranked inside the top 28 at his position:
- 2025: 60.5 overall grade (29th of 40)
- 2024: 61.4 overall grade (30th of 43)
- 2023: 41.4 overall grade (37th of 37)
That's a problem. Conversely, Linderbaum hasn't ranked outside of the top six in any of his four professional seasons. That presents quite the upgrade.
Ethan Pocic is a different story. The Browns’ starting center struggled early in his career, found his footing during a solid stretch from 2021 to 2023, and then regressed again. Add in the season-ending injury he suffered last year, and it’s fair to question whether he can bounce back to form.
Related: Todd Monken fallout has Giants fans staring at a total nightmare OC scenario
That’s exactly why a bidding war for Harby’s and Monken’s former standout center could break out and get ugly fast. Both the G-Men and Brownies have plenty of reasons to chase Linderbaum hard. It's not only the Baltimore connection that'll pin the former coworkers against one another -- it's also just about everything else organizationally:
Giants | Browns | |
|---|---|---|
Struggled mightily recently? | If recently means a decade | It's kind of our thing |
2026 cap space? | Flushed with $1.8 million | In the red ($23.98) million |
Clear path to 2026 cap space? | Yes | Uhh.... next question |
Need an upgrade at center? | John Michael Schm... YES! | Pff just ranked their O-line 31st in 2025... so. Also yeah |
Just hired a new head coach? | John Harbaugh | Todd Monken |
They work for the Ravens? | Check | Double check |
Even still, I'd be willing to bet the grass is greener in the Meadowlands. Or maybe it’s just freshly watered with the tears of regret if Linderbaum signs somewhere else. Either way, free agency’s about to get fun.