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Panthers linked to superstar center in 2026 free agency

The Carolina Panthers could help Bryce Young in a major way during free agency this offseason.
Jeremy Brener|
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young runs onto the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young runs onto the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers. | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are turning a corner as they have a 5-4 record through the first half of the team's season.

If they continue along this trajectory, they will become a threat for the playoffs and have the chance to become a major player in free agency. They still need help on the offensive line, which is why Bleacher Report writer Kristopher Knox listed Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum as an option for the team to sign this offseason.

"The Ravens declined the fifth-year option on Tyler Linderbaum's contract because the fifth-year option is the same for all offensive line positions—meaning he would have exceeded Creed Humphrey's market-leading $18 million salary by $5.4 million," Knox wrote.

"Linderbaum, a two-time Pro Bowler, will almost certainly surpass Humphrey's annual salary whenever he signs a new deal. The question is whether he signs with Baltimore or elsewhere.

"ESPN's Dan Graziano reported in August that the Ravens wanted to extend Linderbaum, Kyle Hamilton and Isaiah Likely before the end of the season. To this point, only Hamilton has been extended."

AFC center Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens during the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge
AFC center Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens during the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Panthers linked to Linderbaum in free agency

The Panthers will need to dole out a lot of money to lure Linderbaum away from the Ravens, who declined his fifth-year option. The Ravens want to keep Linderbaum, but preferred to sign him to a long-term deal instead of having him on a one-year contract with a large salary.

The Panthers are currently playing with Cade Mays as their starting center. Mays missed the team's Week 9 win against the Green Bay Packers with ankle and knee injuries, but he has the potential to return for the team's Week 10 contest against the New Orleans Saints.

Mays, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, will be a free agent at the end of the season. He has logged 21 starts across four seasons with the Panthers and has performed well, but Linderbaum would be an upgrade for the team as one of the best centers in the entire league.

In the meantime, the Saints and Panthers are scheduled to kick off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum looks on during an NFL OTA at Under Armour Performance Center
Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum looks on during an NFL OTA at Under Armour Performance Center. | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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