Buffalo Bills: 5 offensive linemen to target in the 2022 NFL Draft
C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Measurables: 6-3, 290 lbs.
While the Buffalo Bills do have a very solid center in Mitch Morse, he is entering the final year of his contract. The Buffalo Bills could very well re-sign Morse, or they could look to the draft for his replacement.
Tyler Linderbaum would be the perfect prospect to sit for a year behind Morse, maybe even play some guard, then take over for Morse when he departs. Linderbaum started playing center just two seasons ago when he transitioned from defensive tackle. For that reason, he shows on tape that he is still raw as a player, but he also offers the highest ceiling of any center prospect.
Linderbaum has a near-perfect combination of athleticism and strength. Although he is a little light at 290 pounds, he plays at a high game speed and has shown a bunch of toughness finishing each play. Even though he is light, he consistently moves defenders in the ground game, and his athleticism helps get him to the second level consistently.
How many times has the best player on the #2 ranked team in the country been a center?#Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum with another near-flawless performance on Saturday. Outstanding reach/cut off quickness. Zero pressures allowed. pic.twitter.com/aRsRwLOaeS
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 11, 2021
Where Linderbaum can improve is maybe add some weight to deal with some of the added strength and power of NFL defensive lineman and continue to work on the consistency of his hand placement.
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Brandon Beane could continue the Iowa to Buffalo pipeline (Micah Hyde, Ike Boettger, A.J. Epenesa) if he feels that Linderbaum is a solid replacement for Morse in 2023. Although Linderbaum or Morse have never played guard, the Buffalo Bills could experiment with their positioning if Beane feels that Linderbaum is too talented to pass up.