With the Super Bowl now the only official game left remaining on the schedule, the 2025 NFL season is coming to a near close. Following the big game, focus will quickly shift to the 2026 offseason, with a much-anticipated free agency period being only a little over a month away.
For the Baltimore Ravens, as per usual, a number of their own players are set to hit the open market as their contracts are up. In March, the Ravens will have 24 total players who are free agents, 19 of which will be unrestricted.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently published a list ranking the Top 50 players available in free agency this year, and two Ravens’ players were present: center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely. Linderbaum was listed as the No. 3 overall free agent, while Likely also cracked the top half of the list at No. 20.
“Linderbaum has a tone-setting mentality on the interior of the front, using elite foot speed and body control to match pass rushers or climb to the second level in the run game“ Bowen wrote. ”His pass block win rate of 97.2% tied for second among 31 qualifying centers this season.“
It’s not surprising to see Linderbaum listed highly here, trailing only edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and wide receiver George Pickens. Linderbaum is widely considered to be the top free agent center and offensive linemen this offseason. The next highest-ranked lineman on the Top 50 list is Rasheed Walker from the Green Bay Packers at No. 8 and Braden Smith (No. 10) from Indianapolis, who are both offensive tackles.
Since being drafted by the Ravens in the first round back in 2022, Linderbaum has established himself as one of the better centers in the league. He’s made three consecutive Pro Bowl teams. The Ravens opted not to pick up his fifth-year option prior to the 2024 season, though, which is why he’s now on the cusp of free agency. To avoid letting him be signed elsewhere, the Ravens could choose to apply to the franchise tag for almost $25 million.
Linderbaum, 26, is a high-level player but not without his flaws, too, and the center position is generally not valued as greatly across the league as some other premium spots. As such, it will be interesting to see if the Ravens are willing to re-sign him to a long-term expensive deal or would prefer to use the franchise tag. It’s hard to envision they would let him walk freely, but the demand for Linderbaum from other teams will be high.
As for Likely, a former fourth-round pick in the same 2022 draft, his free agency profile is more curious.
Likely’s alignment versatility gives offensive playcallers more flexibility, and he has the catch-and-run traits to produce on high-percentage throws” Bowen wrote. “He should be viewed as a “move” tight end who can get favorable matchups in the passing game.“
Likely, 27, was thought to be a candidate for a contract extension before this past season in Baltimore. Instead, he played out the year the final deal of his contract and had a bit of a rocky 2025 campaign. After missing the first few games of the season with a foot injury, Likely never established himself in the team’s passing attack like many anticipated he would.
Compared to the prior season, in two less games Likely’s receptions dropped by 15 and receiving yards decreased from 477 to 307. He also caught just one touchdown pass after scoring six times in 2024 and fumbled twice. He will still likely garner solid interest on the open market, though, for the reasons that Bowen mentioned. Likely is in his athletic prime and has displayed a good mix of contested catch and yards-after-catch abilities.
The Ravens would probably like to have him back, but the price tag may be too high. When the Ravens gave Mark Andrews a three-year contract extension a couple months ago, it was evident which tight end they were prioritizing retaining above the others. Fellow tight end Charlie Kolar is also set to be a free agent as well.
Do you think Linderbaum and Likely are ranked appropriately on ESPN’s list of Top 50 free agents? Do you think any other Ravens’ players should have made the list as well? Share your thoughts below and discuss!
