The NFL franchise tag window, which opens on Tuesday and ends on March 5, is quickly approaching.
The Baltimore Ravens must decide about a few impending free agents, the most significant of which may be defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Ravens last season, was tagged but eventually got a five-year, $260 million contract.
“Madubuike is considered one of the top-five free agents in the league after producing a career season in his contract year. He recorded 13 sacks in 2023, the most by a Baltimore player in nine years. If he hit free agency, he would likely receive a contract that would average over $20 million per season.
“Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta declined to reveal whether the team would use the tag on Madubuike, saying he didn’t want to show his hand. “We’ll know what’s best for us to do,” DeCosta said at the end of the season.”
Would Madubuike rather be a priority for Ravens?
In 2023, Madubuike had one of his best seasons ever, and it didn’t hurt that it was also his contract year. The former Texas A&M Aggie started every game in the Ravens’ 17-game schedule, surpassing his cumulative sack total from the three years prior (8.5). Baltimore has a lot of pending free agents on the defensive side of the ball, but it seems Madubuike would be a priority this offseason for DeCosta given his age and productivity last season.