Nnamdi

Madubuike

Madubuike’s new deal includes a whopping $75.5 million in guaranteed money. The recently franchise-tagged lineman is now locked in with the Ravens through the 2027 season after enjoying a breakout campaign in 2023. The former third-round pick totaled career-highs in tackles (56), sacks (13.0), and TFLs (12) last season while being named Second-Team All-Pro and voted to his first Pro Bowl. A true disruptor along the interior, Madubuike, 26, should have plenty of prime years left in the tank on under this new deal.

Madubuike enjoyed a breakout season with the Ravens in 2023, leading the team with a career-high 13 sacks while also notching 12 TFLs. The former third-round pick has shown steady improvement in each of his first three seasons with the team and finally put it all together in a contract year. According to Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, the Ravens and Madubuike plan to continue negotiations toward a long-term deal. If they are unable to agree on an extension for this season, Madubuike would earn $22.1 million on the tag for 2024.

Nose tackle Brandon Williams, OLB Justin Houston and OLB Jaylon Ferguson will also go on the team’s COVID list after Ferguson tested positive Friday morning (and the others were considered close contacts). With two starters in that group officially sidelined for Sunday, D’Andre Swift (groin, questionable), T.J. Hockenson, and the rest of Detroit’s receiving game can be started with the utmost confidence. Baltimore’s defense most recently allowed 8.5 yards per play to Kansas City at full strength.

The Ravens still have multiple players on the COVID-19 list, but there weren’t any last-minute surprise inactives among the players expected to return on Tuesday Night Football. Lamar Jackson and J.K. Dobbins are expected to start. Ravens DT Brandon Williams is also ready to plug up the middle.

He’s the fourth rookie the Ravens have officially locked up post-draft, joining fourth-round OL Ben Bredeson, fifth-round DT Broderick Washington, and sixth-round WR James Proche. Madubuike (6’3/293) was a top-50 recruit and three-year starter at Texas A&M, rotating between multiple positions across the defensive line. He led the Aggies with 11.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks as a redshirt junior. Madubuike is both shorter and lighter than most interior linemen, but he wins with 84th percentile adjusted SPARQ athleticism. On tape, Madubuike played up to his 4.83-second forty time and 31-rep bench press, often escaping from initial contact as a pass rusher. In the NFL, Madubuike will need more technical refinement to reach his ceiling and may be forced into a rotational pass-rushing role given his size, making him a boom-or-bust Day 2 prospect.

Madubuike (6’3/293) was a top-50 recruit and three-year starter at Texas A&M, rotating between multiple positions across the defensive line. He led the Aggies with 11.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks as a redshirt junior. Madubuike is both shorter and lighter than most interior linemen, but he wins with 84th percentile adjusted SPARQ athleticism. On tape, Madubuike played up to his 4.83-second forty time and 31-rep bench press, often escaping from initial contact as a pass rusher. In the NFL, Madubuike will need more technical refinement to reach his ceiling and may be forced into a rotational pass-rushing role given his size, making him a boom-or-bust Day 2 prospect.

Madubuike (6’3/293) was a top-50 recruit and three-year starter at Texas A&M, rotating between multiple positions across the defensive line. He led the Aggies with 11.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks as a redshirt junior. Madubuike is both shorter and lighter than most interior linemen, but he wins with 84th percentile adjusted SPARQ athleticism. On tape, Madubuike played up to his 4.83-second forty time and 31-rep bench press, often escaping from initial contact as a pass rusher. In the NFL, Madubuike will need more technical refinement to reach his ceiling and may be forced into a rotational pass-rushing role given his size, making him a boom-or-bust Day 2 prospect.

Madubuike (6'3/293) earlier managed to sneak in a formal visit with the Titans, prior to face-to-face meetings being put on hold. Strong and quick, the Texas A&M lineman is still something of a work-in-progress as a pass-rusher. NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein comps the potential Day 2 prospect to Dolphins DT Davon Godchaux.

Madebuike (6'3/293) has been one of this class’ steady risers throughout the process. Zierlein writes Madubuike “gets wins with leverage, strength and quickness,” making him the perfect penetrating DL for today’s game. Madubuike has the “bend and turn to knife through gaps,” as evidenced by his 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks over the past two seasons. Zierlein grades Madubuike out as a player who should become a starter within their first two seasons.

Madubuike (6'3/304) was a highly-recruited player, but didn’t really get a chance to contribute until his third and fourth years at the school. “An active competitor, Madubuike strikes with power and pad level, showing the heavy hands to work his way through bodies,” Brugler writes. “While his initial quickness can be too much for blockers to handle at times, his pass rush stalls and he must expand his bag of tricks and rush plan.” Right now, it appears Madubuike is a mid-round selection, but it sounds like he has the upside to be a steal in that area.