The Pittsburgh Steelers are in excellent form, while the Baltimore Ravens are getting ready to lose a couple starters to free agency. They are in better salary cap shape than the Ravens and should have the majority of their starters from the previous campaign returning. Justin Madubuike, a defensive tackle for Baltimore, is the team’s largest free agent and may demand a high salary that the Ravens cannot afford. If so, what are the chances that the former Aggie from Texas A&M will transfer to one of Baltimore’s AFC North rivals?
According to AtoZ Sports, Madubuike would be a reasonable choice to take Cameron Heyward’s spot in case he is forced to give up due to the pay cap. The club may manipulate the salary cap and sign Madubuike as Pittsburgh’s next great interior defensive lineman by arranging a new deal for Heyward that extends his 2024 salary or turns it into a signing bonus.
Madubuike finished the previous season with a career-high 56 tackles, one forced fumble, 13 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 33 quarterback hits. He was selected as a second-team All-Pro, too. Madubuike’s sack total more than tripled his total from the previous three seasons, in addition to those being career highs.
How is Madubuike affordable for Pittsburgh? They may save $16 million against the 2024 cap if they release Heyward, which might be sufficient to sign Madubuike. All of this to suggest that the Steelers’ decision to cut ways with Heyward may be among their worst recent organisational decisions. He is a mainstay in the Pittsburgh metropolitan region and recently won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
