2 huge roster decisions could define new Ravens HC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens are on the hunt for their next head coach, and that is going to be a long, time-consuming process.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut once that new head coach is in the building, there are going to be a host of decisions that will need to be made rather quickly.
First, which players stay and which ones get moved on.
And in Baltimore's case, there are two free agents that the franchise has to decide on.
One being tight end Isaiah Likely. The other is starting center Tyler Linderbaum, both of whom landed on Garrett Podell's top 50 free agents list for CBS Sports.
Both could be seen as key pieces of the offense for the next handful of years, especially Tyler, who already has three Pro Bowls to his name.
And what the next head coach decides to do with the pair could define his early tenure with the franchise.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore:Will Lamar Jackson help Ravens choose new head coach?
Can Ravens sign both?
Without a doubt, they can.
But Lamar Jackson's contract will have to be extended or restructured to allow the money to become available to sign them.
But if push came to shove, Linderbaum would likely take priority over Likely. Especially after Mark Andrews' extension, which to me was a little odd.
Likely has shown his potential and chemistry with Lamar, so losing him would be a blow. But not as bigger blow as if Tyler walked out the door. Which I don't see happening.
In an ideal world, Lamar's contract gets sorted, and both Likely and Linderbaum are Ravens in 2026.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd if the new head coach can get that done, they'll be off to a strong start.
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