At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, general manager Eric DeCosta of the Ravens stated that if a long-term agreement is not reached by the end of next week, the team will “probably” assign All-Pro defensive tackle Justin Madubuike the franchise tag.
To tag Madubuike, a potential free agent who led all interior lineman in 2023 with 13 sacks, the Ravens had until Tuesday at 4 p.m. A defensive lineman’s one-year franchise tag tender is fully guaranteed to be worth $22.1 million, which would take away from the Ravens’ offseason salary cap flexibility.
DeCosta said the Ravens are “trying to get a [long-term] deal done” with Madubuike, which would keep one of the NFL’s rising defensive stars in Baltimore and likely lower his cap hit in 2024. If the Ravens tag Madubuike, they would likely have mid-July to sign him to a multiyear contract extension.
“We’ve had discussions with Justin,” DeCosta said. “He’s a guy that obviously has put himself in a fortuitous position this year by the way that he played. Had a great season for us. He’s a valued player on the team, and we’re hopeful that we can get a long-term deal done.”
Madubuike’s 64 quarterback pressures in 2023 matched for the second-highest total of any Ravens player since 2016, only surpassed by outside linebacker and pending free agency Jadeveon Clowney’s stats from the previous campaign, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Additionally, Madubuike made a significant impact on the Ravens’ run defense. The Ravens finished sixth in success rate, 11th in projected points added per play versus designed runs, and 12th in yards before contact per rush in 2023 with him on the field, per TruMedia. Their run defense was ranked 20, 20, and 24th, respectively, without Madubuike.
At the Pro Bowl, Madubuike—a former third-round selection—called Baltimore “home,” but he also said, “Business is business, and that side is going to take care of itself.”
