Ravens Free Agency Rumors: Franchise Tag Justin Madubuike?

We're just around the corner from the NFL franchise tag window opening on Tuesday and ending on March 5. The Baltimore Ravens need to make a decision on some pending free agents, and maybe most importantly, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.

Last season, the Ravens used the tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson, who later signed a five-year, $260 million deal.

ESPN is in favor of Baltimore tagging Madubuike:

"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."

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Madubuike had a career season in 2023, and it doesn't hurt that it was a contract year for him. The former Texas A&M Aggie started all 17 games for the Ravens and eclipsed his sack total from the previous three years combined (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.