After four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, center Ryan Jensen is scheduled to hit free agency in March. Given his excellent track record, he’ll be in high demand. If he doesn’t re-sign with the Bucs, where are some of Jensen’s possible landing spots around the NFL?
Ryan Jensen’s free-agent profile
A sixth-round pick of the Ravens in the 2013 NFL Draft, Jensen didn’t become a full-time starter until 2017, his final season in Baltimore. He went south to Tampa Bay on a four-year, $42 million contract that — at the time — made him the highest-paid center in the league. All he’s done since is play in every game, barely miss a snap, and anchor what’s become one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.
Jensen has been a critical force for the Buccaneers, but they may have not the wherewithal to keep him around. Tampa Bay projects to have roughly $20 million in cap space this offseason. But the Bucs also have a laundry list of free agents that includes RB Leonard Fournette, WR Chris Godwin, TE Rob Gronkowski, G Alex Cappa, DT Ndamukong Suh, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Carlton Davis, and S Jordan Whitehead.
Unless he accepts a discount to keep playing alongside Tom Brady, it seems unlikely Jensen will return to Tampa. He’ll easily be the best center available on the open market.
There are only a few other available pivots who are even starting-caliber (Ben Jones, Ethan Pocic, Bradley Bozeman). Centers take a lot of wear and tear, but Jensen is still just 30 years old. He could top Frank Ragnow’s position-leading $13.5 million annual salary, even if it’s only on a short-term deal.
Ryan Jensen’s landing spots
If Jensen leaves the Buccaneers, which teams could express interest? Here are a few ideas.
Jensen would give the Chicago Bears and Justin Fields help up front
The Bears need a lot of assistance on offense, and they need to add weapons for Justin Fields to have any chance at success. But just as important might be adding a veteran center. Jensen could help Fields with protection calls and diagnosing opposing defenses, taking quite a bit off the plate of the young quarterback. He’d allow Fields to exert less energy on the mental side of the game and simply play to his physical strengths.
Incumbent Bears center Sam Mustipher was one of several weak spots along Chicago’s five. The former undrafted free agent was a liability in both the pass and run game, and he’s likely to be replaced in 2022. The new Bears regime should have more than $30 million in cap space to use on upgrades throughout the offseason.
The Cincinnati Bengals could improve at nearly every OL spot
As Exhibit A in “Why the Bengals need to sign free-agent offensive linemen,” I present Cincinnati’s performance in their Divisional Round victory over the Titans. The Bengals pulled out the close win despite Joe Burrow getting battered on the way to 9 sacks. Cincinnati’s interior OL had no answers for Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, and Co., and they were lucky to advance to the AFC Championship Game.
No matter how far the Bengals go in the postseason, they’re going to have to target offensive linemen on the open market. Center Trey Hopkins is a success story as a former undrafted free agent turned starter, but he’s (at best) a replacement-level player. He’s not the type of center that a perennial contender should be running out for 17 games. If that’s what the Bengals are, they could use a veteran like Jensen. He’d bring an air of toughness to a front five that’s gotten destroyed time and again in 2021.
The Miami Dolphins have money to spend and needs to fill
Whether or not the Dolphins move forward with Tua Tagovailoa as their quarterback, they need to address their offensive line. Miami finished 19th in Football Outsiders’ adjusted sack rate and 30th in adjusted line yards. That’s despite the Dolphins employing a quick passing attack that should have taken the pressure off their OL. They simply need more talent up front.
Miami should have the most cap space in the league next year ($70 million at the moment). As such, they’ll be tied to a number of free agents. But the offensive line is the area where they should truly hone in. Jensen’s motor never stops. He’d be a breath of fresh air and a leader for a Dolphins OL that desperately needs both.
The Carolina Panthers need a complete OL overhaul
The Dolphins probably fielded the NFL’s worst offensive line in 2021, but the Panthers also have a case. Carolina at least has Taylor Moton at right tackle, so they boasted some level of competency. But the rest of their line is a major problem.
Incumbent Matt Paradis has been a disastrous free-agent signing. When he tore his ACL in November, Paradis was replaced by an even worse recent addition in Pat Elflein. Between Elflein and Cam Erving (each of whom received at least $4.5 million annually), I’m not sure the Panthers have done the best job of evaluating available offensive linemen.
Luckily, they (hopefully) already know Jensen is solid after playing him twice a year. Head coach Matt Rhule is on the hot seat heading into his third season in Carolina. With some interesting offensive pieces on the roster, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers spring to refresh their OL.
Jensen would represent an upgrade for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Of all the teams listed here, the Jaguars have the best center currently in place. Brandon Linder has been an average-to-above-average pivot for Jacksonville for the past eight years. He was the NFL’s highest-paid center before Jensen took that crown. And he’s still under contract through 2022.
The Jaguars would probably be fine retaining Linder next season, but there’s no question that Jensen would represent a step up. Jacksonville has enough cap space to ensure Trevor Lawrence is fully protected in his second pro campaign. Meanwhile, they wouldn’t incur any dead money by releasing Linder, who has only completed one NFL season in which he wasn’t hampered by injuries.