Two franchise-tagged players have signed extensions this week. Justin Madubuike will follow Jaylon Johnson. The Ravens now have their breakthrough defensive tackle locked down.
After a monster contract 12 months, Madubuike agreed to terms on a four-year, $98MM deal, in response to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The contract includes $53.5MM guaranteed at signing and $75.5MM in total guarantees. Each the guarantee numbers represent highwater marks for NFL interior D-linemen, which just about definitely will affect the free agent market soon.
Like Johnson, this represents a staggering value spike for a player who was not on the radar to attain a contract on this neighborhood a 12 months ago. But Madubuike stepped up in his platform 12 months, registering a Ravens-high 13 sacks — essentially the most by a Raven since Elvis Dumervil in 2014 — to power a No. 1-ranked defense. The Ravens viewed Madubuike and Broderick Washington as extension candidates last summer; each are actually signed, with Madubuike breaking recent ground for a Baltimore D-line contract.
Madubuike, 26, eclipsed Quinnen Williams‘ marks for full guarantees and total guaranteed money. The Jets standout received $47.8MM at signing when he agreed to his $24MM-per-year deal last July, with Gang Green guaranteeing the previous top-five pick $66MM in total. Those represented incremental gains from the previous position standards; Madubuike’s numbers create a transparent gap between Nos. 1 and a couple of on these lists.
The Ravens didn’t go near Aaron Donald‘s $31.7MM-per-year salary, which stays the runaway leader for AAV on the position. But they navigated this gap by showing a willingness to ensure a greater portion of Madubuike’s contract. That undoubtedly pushed this process past the finish line. This agreement will reduce the $22.1MM cap figure on Baltimore’s payroll in consequence of Tuesday’s tag and convey some excellent news for Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins as they prepare to — barring Eleventh-hour agreements — head into free agency.
Like Chicago, Baltimore now has high-end extensions allocated to players on all three defensive levels. Madubuike joins Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey in that regard. The Ravens have signed off on the Smith payment — still an ILB AAV record — and Madubuike pact inside a 14-month span. While Smith was at all times a candidate to land big money — as he had leverage via a trade and Lamar Jackson being primed for last 12 months’s franchise tag — Madubuike represents more of an underdog story.
The No. 71 pick within the 2020 draft, the Texas A&M alum had never totaled greater than 5.5 sacks or nine QB hits in a season prior to his contract 12 months. His walk-year numbers of 13 and 33 in those categories could have given the Ravens pause, potentially calling for a “prove it” 12 months on the tag. But after they carried a $32MM-plus Jackson tag number into late April last 12 months, the AFC North champions could have their payroll more organized going into free agency this 12 months.
After the Ravens released Calais Campbell last 12 months, Madubuike stormed ahead because the team’s top sack artist. Helping late-arriving free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy produce surprising sack numbers, Madubuike also tied an NFL record by recording a minimum of a half-sack in 11 consecutive games. That secured the ex-Day 2 pick his first Pro Bowl nod. By Thanksgiving, Madubuike had shown enough to the purpose he wouldn’t be permitted to succeed in free agency. The Ravens unholstered their tag but won’t come near the July deadline. As Zach Orr takes over as DC, the Ravens will be certain he has an impact D-line presence locked down.
