Albert Breer’s Free Agency Notes: Why the Tyler Linderbaum Deal Makes Sense for Raiders

Notes on Albert Breer free agency: Why the Tyler Linderbaum deal makes sense for the Raiders In this story: Jump to a topic -Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders - Colts wide receiver decisions - Kenneth Walker III to the Chiefs - Busy Titans Day - fast hitters Ranking the most important movements | NFL free agency updates: Who's going where? Conor Orr on these moves: Mike Evans | Malik Willis | Patrick Mahomes Trade Ratings: Michael Pittman Jr. | Rashan Gary | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Max Crosby | Zaire Franklin | Garrett Bradbury | DJ Moore | David Montgomery | Tytus Howard Now that the first day of free agency is coming to a close, let's move on to some notes from Monday... Tyler Linderbaum to Raiders If we're talking impact, then the biggest deal made in free agency on Monday was the Raiders stealing three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum from the Ravens in a three-year, $81 million deal that will be signed Wednesday when the new league year officially begins at 4 p.m. Eastern time. It makes Linderbaum, annually, the fifth-highest-paid lineman in the NFL and the highest-paid center in history by a huge margin. His $27 million annual average is a 50% margin over Chiefs center Creed Humphrey's $18 million per year. It's rare, if not unprecedented, that you see the price on a position increase like that, but Linderbaum's circumstances were a little different, where his option and tag were too expensive, giving him an open path to free agency. And it's rare for a top-tier big man to hit the market. But there was Linderbaum early Monday. In recent weeks, word spread around the league that he aspired to make $25 million a year. Most teams I spoke to thought he would end up making around $22 million, which still would have been a market correct for the position. Instead, their target number ended up being low and centers will thank them for it in the years to come. Signs have emerged over the past week that something like this could happen. The Bears and Chargers had their centers retreat, and both sniffed out Linderbaum. The Bears then traded for Patriots center Garrett Bradbury and the Chargers signed Commanders castoff Tyler Biadasz. After that, as many viewed the Commanders as the favorites to land Linderbaum, I started hearing that Washington was kicking the tires on guys like Lloyd Cushenberry III, who the Titans let go. Everyone felt that the market would go crazy. And so it was. With everything in place, this makes sense for the Raiders, from a "just money" standpoint, for a team that has a lot. The center's role in helping execute the pre-snap operation is huge in new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. The scheme also values ​​athletic linemen who can move on zone runs. Linderbaum fits the bill on both counts, and his soccer IQ should help ease presumed No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza's transition to the pros. Given the situation the Raiders find themselves in, the question then becomes: Would you rather bid $24 million (which is where Trey Smith set the guard market last year) and risk losing Linderbaum to someone like Washington or Cleveland? Or would you rather just pay the extra $3 million per year and have the player? I know what my answer would be. But that doesn't mean this isn't the type of deal that certain teams will view a certain way, mainly because it will affect the way everyone does business at that position. Colts wide receiver decisions The Colts' signing of Alec Pierce and subsequent firing of Michael Pittman Jr. is certainly a risk, and I like Pierce as a player and can understand the price Indianapolis had to pay. Pittman had 80 receptions or more in four of the last five seasons and has been, for several quarterbacks, the most consistent and reliable weapon in Indy's offense. Pierce is just different