Tyler Linderbaum NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report

NFL Prospect Profile: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Name: Tyler Linderbaum

School: University of Iowa

Year: Jr

Position: Center

Measurables: 6’2 1/8”, 296 lbs.

 

General Info:

Tyler Linderbaum was born in Solon, Iowa and later attended Solon High School, where he competed in basketball, baseball, track and field and wrestling along with football. On the football field, Linderbaum played both center and defensive line for the Solon Spartans. The three-star recruit had a successful high school football career that culminated in his selection as Iowa’s male athlete of the year in 2018. He committed to play for his childhood favorite team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, as a defensive lineman. Tyler transitioned back to center before his redshirt freshman season and started all 13 games for the Hawkeyes, earning Honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy (given to the best center in football) his sophomore year and won the award his junior year, when he was also a unanimous consensus All-American. Elected captain for his junior season, Linerbaum is well respected by teammates as well as football analysts: in 2021, he broke the Pro Football Focus single-season grading record for a center.

 

Positional Skills:

Strengths

Linderbaum is a technically sound offensive lineman that rarely loses at the line of scrimmage, as evidenced by his PFF grade of 95.4% (the highest mark of any player in 2021). If it weren’t for positional value, Tyler Linderbaum would be regarded among the top prospects in this year’s class. Iowa relies heavily on their zone run scheme, and Linderbaum thrived in this system. His quickness is his greatest run-blocking asset; coaches consistently trusted him to reach three-techniques from the center position. He also uses his hands well in the run game: once he gets his hands on you, you’ve lost. Because of Iowa’s run-first offense, Tyler Linderbaum’s pass protection reps are limited, but he showed great balance and recovery on passing downs. Linderbaum has a good feel for the game that evolved throughout his college career.

Weaknesses

While he uses his hands well, Linderbaum’s punch leaves some to be desired. At times, he was jolted back or stalemated by larger defenders. Some consider Tyler Linderbaum undersized at 6’2 1/8”. Plenty of undersized centers succeed in today’s NFL, however, relying on technique (see Corey Linsley).

Fit with the Packers:

Given their newfound lack of talent in the wide receiver room, the Packers will likely need to rely on their zone run scheme for offense, a system in which Tyler Linderbaum thrived in college. The transition from Iowa to Green Bay would be seamless schematically, not to mention Linderbaum is a Packers fan. Tyler Linderbaum likely will not be high on the Packers’ Big Board, however, given that center is not a need for the team. Green Bay drafted fellow Big Ten center Josh Myers last year in the second round, and they likely view him as their starting center in 2022. If the Packers feel that they could move Myers to guard, they may decide to select Linderbaum with one of their first-round picks. Tyler Linderbaum likely does not have the positional versatility of some of Green Bay’s offensive linemen, so it is unlikely he plays any position other than center in the NFL. Wherever he ends up, Tyler Linderbaum should be an instant-impact starter his rookie year.

 

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-1 points
 

Comments (17)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
BirdDogUni's picture

April 08, 2022 at 06:41 pm

Like the kid, but he's projected to go in the 1st round and if Gutey drafts a Center at 22 or 28, every Packer Fan Site on earth will burn to the ground. (If there is a Fan Site off-planet, it would burn down too!)

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MainePackFan's picture

April 08, 2022 at 06:46 pm

Agreed. This is not a need for the Packers.

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LLCHESTY's picture

April 08, 2022 at 11:53 pm

I'd be worried about his size. If the NT is playing 1T it's not such an issue, the G can be the main blocker and Linderbaum can slide off to the LB. But if the NT is head up on him there's not much you can do to mitigate that and it might take full time double team blocks against the Vita Veas of the NFL.

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Leatherhead's picture

April 08, 2022 at 06:56 pm

I'm with Birddog......

I do want to see our offensive line strengthened. We lost Turner and Patrick and those were two starters, so I'd like to see two starters drafted. Good players. In the simulations, I usually have the Packers trading down from #28 to get an extra pick in the second and third rounds and then using them on offensive linemen. Two Day 2 linemen to open holes and protect Rodgers.

I cannot begin to express how I'm going to manage if we don't take the best WR available at #22. I've argued for years about we don't need first round WRs because we've done so well with our Day 2 picks, but I think this year we have an exceptional opportunity to add some top tier talent at the WR spot.

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BirdDogUni's picture

April 08, 2022 at 07:12 pm

"... because we've done so well with our Day 2 picks..."

If more QBs go in the 1st 21 picks than we think, that means guys are going to fall to 22. Personally, I'm not convinced Olave is a Packer type WR. IDK what Gutey thinks about Burks.

I'm hoping a guy at a need position falls to 22. Jordan Davis, Trevor Penning, someone who Gutey just can't pass on. Then I am hoping a team wants to trade back into the 1st round at #28 and gives Gutey some decent capital so they can draft a QB.

A high 2nd round pick and a high 3rd round pick would be wicked. We can draft a couple WRs in the 2nd round and a TE in the 3rd round and our major worries are over.

I'm sure Gutey will be getting plenty of calls for #28, I just hope he makes good choices come draft day.

3 points
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BruceC1960's picture

April 08, 2022 at 09:26 pm

I see Burks as Anquan Boldin. Does that fit?

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LLCHESTY's picture

April 08, 2022 at 11:39 pm

Burks is bigger and faster than Boldin was. When I watched him with Arkansas last fall my first thought was he's a turbo Lazard. Faster and more athletic but a very good blocker like Lazard.

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LLCHESTY's picture

April 08, 2022 at 11:43 pm

I'd be happy with a 2nd and a high 4th back if it's a real high 2nd like 33-35 or so. Maybe a 6th to replace the one from the Cobb trade.

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packer132's picture

April 08, 2022 at 07:36 pm

So many mock drafts and no two are the same, it's hard to know what the Packer's board looks. There will be surprises to change that board. I trust in the scouts and GM to make good picks, and hope they keep the top four in the first and second round. That should give Green Bay at least a WR, Edge, and OL player who could start. Scouts have so much tape on these players that fans can only root for guys they have some knowledge about. I can't wait until the 28th.

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MarkinMadison's picture

April 08, 2022 at 07:39 pm

Center is not a need and I can't see Linderbaum playing anywhere else.

I think I follow Birddog's logic but I can't see the Packers going QB this year unless Love is traded.

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BirdDogUni's picture

April 08, 2022 at 08:03 pm

Lol...

Did I say anything about QB?

No, I don't think I did Mark...

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Johnblood27's picture

April 08, 2022 at 09:03 pm

just trading out of 28 to a team that may want a QB...

that s all...

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MarkinMadison's picture

April 09, 2022 at 07:14 am

"Then I am hoping a team wants to trade back into the 1st round at #28 and gives Gutey some decent capital so they can draft a QB."

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 10, 2022 at 05:09 am

I think he meant that the team trading up wants to take a QB, not that the Packers would draft a QB on day one or two.

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dobber's picture

April 08, 2022 at 09:21 pm

"Center is not a need and I can't see Linderbaum playing anywhere else."

Unless they decide that Myers is their best RG...

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LLCHESTY's picture

April 08, 2022 at 11:57 pm

I think a backup C/G is needed. I'd like to see them grab some competition for Hanson as a replacement for Patrick.

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MaryAnderson's picture

April 10, 2022 at 02:58 pm

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