Overview
Position: Offensive Center
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 296 Lbs.
School: University of Iowa
Pro Day Performance Data
40-yard dash: Did Not Test
Vertical jump: Did Not Test
Broad jump: Did Not Test
225 Lb. Bench Reps: Did Not Test
Tyler Linderbaum 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Even dating back to last season, Tyler Linderbaum remains one of the most hyped offensive linemen in his draft class. Now, there are a few red flags, but there are a lot of reasons to love the way Linderbaum plays the game. When watching Linderbaum’s film, it’s easy to see how much Iowa’s offense revolved around his prowess. Clearly, Linderbaum plays with a fire and physicality that defenders can’t combat. Frequently, this involves him taking on multiple defenders in the running game to help carve lanes.
Tyler Linderbaum putting in more tremendous work at both levels of the run game. pic.twitter.com/yv0F1rAG2I
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) March 20, 2022
In these settings, Linderbaum’s elite vision and plus-power allow him to clock the defensive lineman and pave a path by turning a linebacker’s back away. Even against bigger defensive linemen, Linderbaum’s able to turn their backs and stonewall them out of running lanes.
Tyler Linderbaum (C 65)
Everyone in Cincinnati’s dream draft pick and a very legitimate option at 31 imo for a couple reasons
NFL does not value centers as high as they should
And he is going to measure smaller than Billy Price
But he’s easily a top 10 player in my book pic.twitter.com/UGXJ44EF4s
— Draft Guy Jared (@DraftGuyJared) February 20, 2022
Meanwhile, Linderbaum shows a lot of good qualities in the passing game, but it’s not always as perfect. Frequently, he delivers great punches with great, repeatable technique. Consistently, Linderbaum gets inside the framework of a defensive player and stifles their pass rush. Linderbaum also shows no hesitation against bull rushers which is somewhat surprising given his size. However, that size does show up on occasion against more technically-clever three-technique defensive tackles. Linderbaum’s 31-inch arms hurt him here, as defenders can catch him leaning. Here, Linderbaum loses balance and occasionally ends up on the turf. Granted, with technical refinement, it should be less of an issue at the professional level.
Strengths
- Plays with tremendous physicality
- Hand technique is as good as it gets
- Fantastic at blocking in both levels of the run game
- Typically handles bull rushers with ease
- Short-distance foot speed is top-level
- Has a clear vision for the field and good football IQ
- Took on lots of responsibility in Iowa’s offense
- Regarded as a great leader
- Dominates with leverage despite being undersized
Weaknesses
- Coming from a non-pro-style offense at Iowa
- Undersized with a shorter wingspan
- Gets caught leaning on occasion
- Needs to add weight to reach his ceiling
- Can be beaten by clever pass rush moves
NFL Comparison: Jason Kelce
Teams With Need at Position: Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commodores, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos
Projection: Mid-First Round
Bottom Line on Tyler Linderbaum
Highly unlikely to make it past the first round, Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum could be a franchise centerpiece in this year’s draft. Certainly, there are some real concerns around his size, but he should be able to overcome that weakness. On paper, he’s among the best few run blockers in his class and that’ll be exciting for pro teams. While it may take him a season to adjust to NFL defenders, his long-term projection should give teams optimism. Still, it’ll be interesting to see if Linderbaum slides due to his size and positional value. Regardless, he’s certainly among the very best talents in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
