The Ravens did the only thing that matters on a quiet first day of free agent negotiations
Baltimore didn’t do much…but what they DID do was important.
It was a quiet Monday for the Baltimore Ravens to open this year’s legal tampering period.
Baltimore said goodbye to a slew of free agents, including names like Tyler Linderbaum, Alohi Gilman, Dre’Mont Jones, and others. The team agreed to terms with one free agent of their own — a familiar face in guard John Simpson. And while it is true that the net gains and losses for Baltimore on Monday overwhelmingly skew towards the losses, it is also true that they got something even more important done than signing players.
They did the right thing.
The Ravens’ quiet first day was the right play for Baltimore
The Ravens didn’t do much on Monday. But they did do one thing: the right thing.
Tyler Linderbaum is sensational. A phenomenal talent who has plenty of All-Pro caliber years ahead of him. And it’s tough to say goodbye to a player like that. But the alternative was keeping Linderbaum by offering him north of a 50% market resetting contract — Linderbaum landed on $27 million annually from the Las Vegas Raiders. The previous annual average record for a center was $18 million (Creed Humphrey). It’s an indefensible contract to hand out for the Ravens, amid the acquisition of Maxx Crosby and the looming extension for QB Lamar Jackson.
Dre’Mont Jones was a good player in Baltimore. The Patriots offered north of $12 million annually. TE Charlie Kolar was Baltimore’s third tight end and got starter money from the Chargers ($8 million per season). Isaiah Likely received a $40 million contract on the heels of a 27 reception, 307 yard, 1 touchdown season from the New York Giants.
Retaining this talent would have been outstanding. It also would have been reckless. There would be sure to be buyer’s remorse if Baltimore moved heaven and earth to push their spending to this stratosphere. Crosby’s acquisition could be viewed, in part, as the cash replacement for several of these players. What’s hard to find? Role playing tight ends and a functional center (while acknowledging the drop-off from Linderbaum), or a Maxx Crosby?
Baltimore’s roster served as a feeder for the rest of the NFL and the Ravens will, once again, reap the benefits when the tally is added up for the 2027 NFL Draft. Baltimore lost seven total free agents, six of which qualify as compensatory free agents. Baltimore is loaded with mid/late round draft capital from their 2025 losses and their 2026 losses will fuel their draft once again.
So Monday was, on one hand, hard. It was also, on the other, necessary. And responsible. It’s now up to the team to respond accordingly and make it right.
