Today’s Hottest Take: It’s A Massive Failure if Tyler Linderbaum Is Not a Charger

As referenced last week, the Chargers will have north of $100M to spend in free agency, and at the top of the FA list is star center Tyler Linderbaum. Among the top needs for the Chargers is the center position. If Linderbaum hits the open market, which is becoming more and more likely with every passing day, the Chargers and Giants have been reported as his #1 suitors. Tyler Despite Spotrac’s prediction, conventional wisdom holds that Linderbaum will reset the center market, eclipsing Creed Humphrey’s $18M AAV, and has a chance to break the $20M mark amid the incoming bidding war.

Both have the Chargers, and the New York Giants have the money to make it happen. The Chargers' advantage lies in their ability to pitch a competitive roster with a win-now ability compared to a Giants team in an extremely talented division and conference.

Long story short, if Linderbaum hits the open market and is wearing any other jersey than powder blue in SoFi come September, it will be a massive failure and a hard-to-shake indictment on the Hortiz/Harbaugh regime.

What You Need to Know: The Impact of an Elite Center

The last couple of years, Chargers fans have seen the impact of a bad center in the form of the much-maligned Bradley Bozeman, but years previous to that, you may remember the impact of one Corey Linsley, who during his time on the field with the Bolts was easily among the top 3 centers in the NFL, and his truly elite performance was a direct reflection in the offensive production, similarly to Joe Alt this past season.

I often think about what Jason Kelce did for Jalen Hurts, calling protections and diagnosing things at the line of scrimmage for Hurts and allowing him to focus on playing the quarterback position, which is what Linsley was able to do for Herbert. Too many times, we saw Herbert destroyed as a result of a failed pick-up on a stunt, or just an overall destruction of the interior O-Line, anchored by a terrible rep by Bozeman. Bringing in Linderbaum wouldn’t just bring in someone who plays the center position at a high level; it would bring in someone who, in both the run and pass game, can uplift the guards around him, and would give the Bolts 3 genuine superstars on the offensive line in him, Alt, and Slater.

Make no mistake, Linderbaum is elite, and at only 25, the reality may be that the best is yet to come.

Before You Go: Backup Plan?

Now, I started this article by saying that anything less than Linderbaum would be a disappointment, and I’ll stand on that. But there’s a universe where he doesn’t hit the market, and Baltimore can retain their superstar, or a universe where the Bolts simply do not get the job done in negotiations, one way or another, the center position needs to be addressed, so who else is available to do so? The main name thrown around as the consensus best second option is Connor McGovern, someone who, if Linderbaum weren’t possibly available, every Chargers fan would be clamoring for in his own right.

One way or another, the Chargers must address the center position this offseason, and the easiest way to do so is with a blank check addressed to Linderbaum or McGovern.