Baltimore Ravens trade up for Iowa offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum in 2022 NFL Draft

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The Baltimore Ravens traded up to select Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, who started his career on the defensive line before redshirting his freshman season, with the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As he established himself as one of the top interior lineman in the country following the shift, he became a finalist for many awards.

The trade saw star wide receiver Marquis “Hollywood” Brown traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a package of picks. The Ravens then traded back two spots before making the selection.

At 6-foot-2, 296-pounds, Tyler Linderbaum entered the 2022 NFL Draft after winning the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the best center in college football, along with All-Big Ten and All-American honors. Although offensive lineman do not fill the stat sheet, his wrestling background and national recognition make him a fan favorite on the inside.

A former three-star plus recruit in the class of 2018, he was the No. 458 overall player in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The Solon, Iowa native also ranked as the No. 46 defensive lineman at the time and No. 2 player in his home state after playing at Solon High School.

NFL draft analysts on Tyler Linderbaum

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Tyler Linderbaum can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the offensive lineman’s draft profile. The analyst compared the Iowa product to perineal Pro Bowl and All-Pro offensive lineman Jason Kelce.

The NFL.com scout pointed out that while he does not possess elite size, he makes up for it with his positioning and quickness on the line to create holes in the run game.

“Linderbaum has Pro Bowl potential but needs to be matched with a move-based rushing attack,” wrote Zierlein. “He has the foot quickness and GPS to consistently find top positioning in the first phase of the block. He plays with leverage and body control to sustain and keep the running lane open.”