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Josh Helmer
Thu, June 16, 2022
The Baltimore Ravens earned immediate praise after selecting Iowa Hawkeyes
center Tyler Linderbaum with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter and Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski both
gave the Ravens’ pick a grade of “A+.” Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson and
FOX Sports’ Rob Rang each awarded the Linderbaum pick a grade of “A,” while The
Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia assessed the selection as an “A-.”
Ultimately, though, the most important piece of the puzzle is
how the Ravens view the addition of Linderbaum. The early returns on that front
have been incredibly positive.
ESPN’s
Jamison Hensley touched in May on how Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh
and the organization feels about the type of impact Linderbaum will have on
star quarterback Lamar Jackson’s ability to make plays.
“When [Jackson] can extend the play, it’s just electric; that’s
kind of his brilliance, and that’s when the field opens up for him in a lot of
different ways. Lamar is
going to appreciate [Linderbaum’s] ability to sustain a block and extend the
play,” Harbaugh said then.
Now, following the Ravens’ second minicamp practice, Jackson is
sounding off on what’s impressed him about Linderbaum already.
“The chemistry is great,
chemistry’s great. And I throw an interception yesterday, Daelin (Hayes) was
taking it back to the house, to the other way. I was kind of paused, talking to
(Duvernay) during the play, and my center Tyler (Linderbaum) was getting after
it, like he was running him down, so I’d just say he’s fast. He’s fast as heck
for a center. Man, I ain’t ever seen a center run like that. He’s a football
player,” Jackson said.
Hearing about
Linderbaum’s deceptive speed and his motor on a play like that won’t shock Iowa
fans. They saw firsthand the past three seasons why Linderbaum ended up as a
unanimous consensus All-American and the program’s first Rimington Trophy
winner.
Linderbaum
understands the task at hand now in Baltimore.
“My job is to protect him [Jackson]; I’m excited to get that
opportunity. Every snap, every down, I’m going to have to bring it, because
obviously it’s a tough league. Every guy across from me is going to be
tough. But just the mentality I’m going to bring, just that gritty
toughness, physical, I’m going to bring it just to protect him and keep him
safe,” Linderbaum said in May.
It’s exciting to see this next chapter in Linderbaum’s football
career unfolding. If it’s anything like his time in Iowa City, Ravens fans will
understand quickly why Linderbaum is beloved by fans of the black and gold.
