Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum Could Reset Their Position Markets
Nearly three years ago, the Ravens were ecstatic to land two potential stars in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum. Their belief in the players was pinpoint perfect, as both have now become two of the best players in the NFL.
Three seasons in, they're now eligible for contract extensions, and ESPN’s Jamison Hensley sees both players capable of resetting their respective position markets.
"Hamilton could surpass the Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield Jr., who became the NFL's highest-paid safety when he signed a four-year, $84.1 million contract last May," Hensley wrote. "Linderbaum could exceed the Kansas City Chiefs' Creed Humphrey, who became the league's highest-paid center when he agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal in August. The Ravens can retain Hamilton and Linderbaum for two more seasons."
The Ravens will want to secure two of their best home-grown stars, something the team takes pride in with drafting, developing, and retaining. Hamilton has become an immediate blue-chip defensive star, filling multiple roles and doing so at a level unlike any other in the modern era.
"In the past two seasons combined, he is the only player in the NFL to record over 100 tackles and at least five sacks, five interceptions and 15 pass breakups," Hensley wrote.
Linderbaum has joined a prestigious group with his play on offense over the first three seasons.
"Linderbaum is the third Ravens offensive lineman to reach multiple Pro Bowls in his first three seasons, joining Ogden and current Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr.," Hensley wrote. "Durable and tough, Linderbaum is the only offensive player for Baltimore to participate in over 93% of the team's snaps in the last three seasons. Last season, Linderbaum ranked No. 2 among centers with a 96.5% pass block win rate. His one sack allowed was the fewest among all centers with at least 600 snaps."
Pundit Lists Ways the Ravens Could Save Cap Space
Entering the offseason, the Ravens appeared a bit cap-strapped, but after a memo was sent to the NFL earlier last week, the 2025 NFL salary cap is estimated to land between $277.5 million to $281 million, giving the Ravens more freedom to work with this offseason.
Though the Ravens won't have a war chest to spend like other clubs, they're expected to have $9.7 million in effective cap space, per overthecap.com. The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker listed a few ways the Ravens could free up more money in the short term with restructures.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey
"After an injury-filled 2023, Humphrey rebounded with an All-Pro season in the slot. He's also one of the highest-paid players on the team. With a cap charge of $25.38 million for 2025, only Jackson counts more against the team's total. Humphrey will also turn 29 in July. With his current deal running through 2026, he could be in line for an extension or at least a restructure, both of which would lower his cap hit."
Running back Derrick Henry
"Henry is entering the final year of the two-year deal he signed with the Ravens last offseason and is set to count $12.9 million against the cap next season. After recording 1,921 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and averaging 5.9 yards per carry — the highest mark of Henry's career — the 31-year-old showed he still has gas in the tank. Extending any back of that age with as many miles as Henry has (11,423 career yards on 2,355 carries) is a risk, but a logical one here. Doing so would also lower Henry's cap hit and keep him in Baltimore for a couple more years, making it potentially possible for him to retire a Raven, which he has expressed interest in doing."
Quarterback Lamar Jackson
"Jackson's $43.7 million cap hit for 2025 ranks just 10th highest in the NFL, making it look like a bargain, especially compared with the restrictive deals of fellow quarterbacks Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns' Deshaun Watson. Still, it's easily the biggest hit on the Ravens' roster and $18 million higher than Humphrey's. It gets even bigger in 2026 and 2027 at $74.65 million for each year (which would rank behind only Prescott's hit this year), so a restructure or extension would help now and in the immediate future."
Brian Billick Looks Back on His Ravens Tenure
During Super Bowl Radio Row, former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick joined Jon Gruden for an interview discussing their experiences with the Ravens. Below are the highlights.
Why Billick picked Baltimore:
"I did not know Ozzie Newsome, but obviously [Dennis Green] did. He thought Ozzie and I would work very well together. And ultimately, that was the difference when he went through [head coaching opportunities]. He recognized Ozzie's perspective with it … I just thought, Cleveland was a brand-new franchise, so that's a bit of a grind. But I just thought in Baltimore – I liked Art Modell. Art was a great, great man. But the relationship with Ozzie – that's pivotal. You got to have a great relationship with the GM. I thought, 'We could win with this.'"
On the defensive staff for the Super Bowl XXXV win:
"Bringing the staff together, that's the key. I brought in – Marvin Lewis was there – but when we were [coaching] in Minnesota the last year, we played Baltimore. And Marvin, with not a great team, did as good a job against us as anybody that we had played. So, I'm going to interview Marvin for the job. Now, I already have in mind, I know Mike [Smith's] going to come on to the staff. Jack Del Rio, who I had worked with a little bit in Minnesota. Rex Ryan, Donny Henderson, so I'm going to bring in some personnel. So, I know who the defensive staff is going to be. I hadn't decided on a coordinator."
On interviewing Marvin Lewis for defensive coordinator:
"Marvin comes up [to the suite at the Senior Bowl], and Marvin and I laugh about this now. When we were done with that interview, not only did I not want to hire Marvin, I never wanted to see the [him] again. It was the worst interview in the history of football. Marvin was emotional, he loved being in Baltimore. He was really distraught with the firings. So, I get done, I have the staff ready to go, and I think, 'I got to talk to Marvin again.' So, I reconnect with Marvin, have a better conversation, and I said, 'Okay, I want you to stay and be my defensive coordinator. But here's the flip side. I've already got your defensive staff.' And I give Marvin a great deal of credit because all these guys, great, competent coaches – can you imagine sitting in the meetings having to defend what they're looking at as you go through the film of the previous year and the new guys [Mike Smith, Rex Ryan, Donny Henderson] are just ripping it to shreds? Marvin did a phenomenal job. … Marvin put together a hell of a defensive staff, and a hell of a team."
What makes Ozzie Newsome a great GM?
"He's the best listener I've ever been around. There'd be those mind-numbing read-outs of all the players and whatever, and Ozzie never really said a lot. But he'd listened to everybody. What I loved about Ozzie was we'd go through the readings, and let's say we're looking at a receiver, he'd [say linebacker coach Mike Smith], 'Mike, why don't you get with Phil Savage and I want you to look at this guy and tell me what you think.' Just to get a different set of eyes – and then just listen. Never tried to lead the conversation or bias it. He was truly just a great listener."
Quick Hits
This Weekend's Most Read: 50 Words or Less: Pre-Combine Ravens Thoughts
- CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr lists wide receiver as Ravens' biggest offseason need: "They also could use some wide receiver help, needing more depth behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman."
