Giants predicted to thwart Raiders' bid to sign $70 million Pro Bowler in free agency

The New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders could both have their eyes on one of the top free agents available on the open market.

That free agent is Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, who is expected to be one of the most coveted players available, regardless of position.

The Giants need an upgrade at center over John Michael Schmitz, who has been a disappointment over his three-year career. He's also entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Meanwhile, the Raiders will need a center if Jackson Powers-Johnson stays at guard, and that need is made more dire by the fact that Las Vegas will draft Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.

Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr predicts both teams will pursue Linderbaum, but the Giants will ultimately come away with him over the Raiders.

Here's what Orr said about the Raiders:

The Raiders will be left at the altar for Tyler Linderbaum.

Much like Kyle Shanahan made getting Alex Mack a priority when he arrived in San Francisco, Klint Kubiak is going to want a heady center to buoy the operation in Las Vegas as he remakes the line to suit an outside-zone scheme. However, Linderbaum, one of the best offensive linemen to hit the market in years, will be swooned at the last moment by … (see below). 

And here's what Orr said about the Giants:

The Giants will steal Tyler Linderbaum from underneath the Raiders’ nose.

In the final stamp of a major offseason power grab, John Harbaugh will give Jaxson Dart the ultimate gift: a cerebral center who can stabilize a massively uncertain offensive line and help stem the leak of interior pressure. This would spell an end for former Joe Schoen second-round pick John Michael Schmitz. 

We could see Linderbaum choosing the Giants for a few reasons: his connection to John Harbaugh and New York having a better roster that could compete sooner.

But the Raiders have their own advantage, and it's a big one: a ton of cap space.

The Raiders are sitting with $91.5 million in cap space this offseason, the second-most in the NFL — and that's before they make any cuts. Meanwhile, the Giants have just $5.1 million to work with before making any moves.

That means the Raiders could basically hand Linderbaum, who is projected to get a four-year, $70 million deal in free agency, per Spotrac, a blank check, and we would not rule out that happening given Las Vegas' need.

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