At the beginning of the offseason, there were expectations that the Baltimore Ravens would be able to retain Tyler Linderbaum, their starting center for the past four seasons. The Ravens chose not to pick up his fifth-year contract option worth $23.4 million in 2024, making the three-time Pro Bowler a free agent in March.
Once Linderbaum, widely considered one of the best centers in the NFL, hit the open market, the Las Vegas Raiders wasted no time in making him an offer he couldn't refuse. Linderbaum agreed to a three-year, $81 million contract, making him the highest-paid center in the NFL, and yes, that's more than the average the Ravens will be paying him for the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, the Ravens now need a new starting center. Many thought Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta would have found a replacement through free agency or the draft, but he did not do so. However, he recently acknowledged that the Ravens could end up trading for their new pivot. A local insider may have an idea of who Baltimore is targeting.
RELATED: 2 Baltimore Ravens trade ideas for a new center
Recently, ESPN's Ravens insider Jamison Hensley took a look at three important questions remaining for Baltimore. One of them focused on who would be the team's new starting center after offensive coordinator Declan Doyle took over.
That's when he suggested a possible trade candidate, Chicago's Garrett Bradbury. Interestingly, Bradbury has already been traded once this offseason, sending him from New England to Chicago in exchange for a fifth-round pick. That trade occurred after Chicago's starting center retired. But the Bears have selected a center in the second round, which could leave Bradbury in a reserve role.
"Now, with Jones being drafted in the second round by the Bears, it's possible Chicago will be tempted to trade veteran center Garrett Bradbury. He's a seven-year starter who was acquired from the New England Patriots in March for a 2027 fifth-round selection."
ESPN's Jamison Hensley on the Garrett Bradbury trade
Bradbury, 30, was the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before starting all 17 regular season games and four playoff games with the Patriots last season.
Although he never lived up to his full draft potential, Bradbury has started all 105 games in his seven-year career, and he would certainly be an upgrade for Baltimore.
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