Give a (massive) golf clap to general manager John Spytek.
The Las Vegas Raiders just became somewhat compelling.
Free agency is upon the NFL, and it’s always a good sign when a team lands the No. 1 option on its wish list.
And you have to believe Tyler Linderbaum was that for the Raiders. You have to believe none ranked above the now former Baltimore Ravens center.
It’s obvious the Raiders are intent on doing everything possible to put the best group of players around Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback expected to be chosen No. 1 overall by the team in April’s draft.
And could there be a better beginning than having Linderbaum anchor an offensive line that has been in need of definite upgrades? Could there be a better name at such an important position?
No to all of it.
He cost dearly, as expected. The Raiders certainly weren’t the only team with plans on enticing Linderbaum. He was one of the hottest names on the market.
Some will look at the three-year deal for $81 million — $60 million of which is guaranteed — and wonder if the Raiders overpaid. Linderbaum now makes more than any other interior lineman in league history.
But this is what it takes to get such a valuable and needed asset. He was never going to come cheap, and that’s OK for a Raiders team with a boatload of money to spend.
‘A stud’
It likely brings clarity for others. Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers can play guard and center, but with Linderbaum’s arrival, it would appear they are destined for the former.
It is potentially also good news for running back Ashton Jeanty, who undoubtedly will benefit from the presence of a three-time Pro Bowler such as Linderbaum.
There is no downside to this. A line that has been (rightly) criticized for some time now couldn’t have hoped for a better influx of immediate talent from one player.
Wrote former Raiders lineman Richie Incognito on X: “Linderbaum is a stud. Centers like that change the whole line. Raiders just got better up front.”
I don’t know how much better the team got with other moves Monday, but it definitely addressed positions of need.
And there are still a lot of them for a 3-14 team.
The rebuild has just begun.
It was a smart decision to re-sign cornerback Eric Stokes, who showed last season what he can do when healthy.
The secondary needs to improve, and keeping Stokes around is a good start.
It’s clear the Raiders are also hoping that bringing back defensive lineman Malcolm Koonce pays dividends. The team needs as much help as it can get on the edge with the departure of Maxx Crosby via trade to Baltimore.
Koonce struggled some last season after missing the 2024 season with a knee injury, so you have to assume the Raiders believe he will only get better two years removed.
It’s also true Kwity Paye — who agreed to a three-year deal worth $48 million — is hardly Crosby, but the former Indianapolis Colt can definitely add something to the edge in coordinator Rob Leonard’s new 3-4 defense.
Needing a No. 1
Tight end Brock Bowers is the team’s top receiving option, but the Raiders still need a No. 1 wide receiver.
They didn’t get that in former Bishop Gorman star Jalen Nailor when he agreed to a three-year deal worth $35 million ($23 million guaranteed).
Mendoza, however, will need as many playmakers as possible. The Raiders drafted wide receivers Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech last year, but those two combined with Tre Tucker aren’t near enough.
There is at least a chance Nailor breaks out after being surrounded by several quality receivers in Minnesota.
There were also agreements with linebackers Nakobe Dean of the Philadelphia Eagles and Quay Walker of the Green Bay Packers. A definite position of need and depth.
But when it was over, when the first day of free-agency frenzy had ended for the Raiders, one name stood above the rest.
The Raiders identified Tyler Linderbaum as their No. 1 target and landed the center. That’s a huge get for Spytek.
Overpaid? Maybe, if you just look at the numbers.
But there is much more to it than that.
When was the last time anyone was excited about this team’s offensive line? Yeah. Thought so.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com.Follow @edgraney on X.
