Ravens predicted to lose $17 million star to AFC rivals

The Baltimore Ravens are going to have to answer a couple of tough questions over the coming weeks as the Jesse Minter era begins.

One is what the franchise will do with Lamar Jackson's contract. The other is, what will the organization do with Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum?

After declining his fifth-year option, Linderbaum is set to be a free agent, and Lamar could lose his star center, on top of losing his head coach and offensive coordinator.

That is nightmare fuel for a franchise that needs to bounce back with authority in 2026.

For CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles, he predicts that the Ravens will lose Linderbaum to the Los Angeles Chargers.

"With three Pro Bowls in four years, Linderbaum is the clear-cut top interior lineman in this free agency class," Pereles wrote. "Though he has expressed a desire to return to the Ravens, the Chargers have the second-most effective cap space in the NFL and could hypothetically beat out any other offer. Will that be enough?"

More: Ravens' Jesse Minter offers perfect quote on Lamar Jackson

Ravens have to re-sign Linderbaum

Continuity for the offensive line is hugely important, and the Ravens need to find a way to keep the three-time Pro Bowler.

Spotrac.com has his calculated market value set at $17.7 million APY, so keeping Tyler won't be cheap.

But the Ravens need Lamar to be at his best if they are to do anything positive, and to do that, he needs to have an offensive line capable of protecting him.

And having one of the best centers in football is a good way to do it.

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