The Chicago Bears' chances of signing center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency always felt slim. Now, they might be disappearing.
Another suitor presumably just entered the sweepstakes for the most expensive center in football. Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly announced his retirement with free agency quickly approaching. Now, Kevin O'Connell's squad is in the market for a new starter at the position.
Minnesota could be battling Chicago for Linderbaum's signature in the coming days. As more and more teams show interest in the former first-round draft pick, his price keeps getting pushed higher and higher. At a certain point, the Bears will have to walk away.
Ryan Kelly retirement could increase Bears' price for Tyler Linderbaum
Kelly wasn't quite the signing that the Vikings hoped he would be. He was effective when he played, but he spent most of the 2027 season injured. Still, he likely would have remained the team's starter for another year had he not retired. Now, Minnesota is forced to find another center.
The Bears are no strangers to seeing needs pop up after sudden retirements. Drew Dalman's departure has led to rumors of their interest in Linderbaum. The former Baltimore Ravens center is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, with multiple teams vying for his services.
Linderbaum reportedly rejected a market-setting contract offered to him by the Ravens. It looks like it may take more than $20 million per year to sign him. The Bears have enough money to get a deal done, but their flexibility is limited by the number of needs remaining on their defense. If the price keeps going up as more teams enter the fray, Bears general manager Ryan Poles might be forced to opt for a cheaper solution.
The Vikings may not be the Bears' top competitors for Linderbaum's signature. They have plenty of financial issues of their own and will likely look for a less expensive option. But as more teams enter free agency in need of a center, the price for the best one starts to rise.
Read more: Bears just lost their best Drew Dalman replacement before free agency starts
Tyler Biadasz, another free agent center, is already off the board. The Bears are going to be faced with a difficult choice between going all-out for Linderbaum and taking a risk on a relative unknown. As the start of free agency draws closer, the dream of signing the Pro Bowl center seems to be quickly fading away.