On a day of departures, the Baltimore Ravens celebrated a return.
Baltimore paid no mind to the potential insensitivity, officially heralding the return of pass rusher Justin Madubuike as legal tampering got underway on Monday. Whereas Monday's news breaks center on changes of address, Madubuike was more than happy to break the trend, setting his sights on not only his new four-year, $98 million contract but the world beyond as well.
"I plan on being here, hopefully for my whole career,” Madubuike said, per Childs Walker of the Baltimore Sun.
Re-upping with Madubuike might turn out to be the biggest move the Ravens make this offseason, as they lack the cap space ... and frankly, the needs ... of a team set to write big checks. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged that there will be some emotional goodbyes over the coming hours and days but is glad that Madubuike wasn't one of them.
In re-introducing to the Charm City faithful, DeCosta attributed Baltimore's maddening sense of consistency (only five losing seasons in the new century) to the fact that they've been able to retain their most reliable performers such as Lamar Jackson, Ray Lewis, and Jonathan Ogden.
"We’ve always strived to keep our best young players here in Baltimore, and I’m thrilled that this is another example,” DeCosta said in Walker's report. “You know you just can’t keep every single player on your team; that’s a frustrating aspect of this job. So you have to keep your very best if you can, the guys you feel most strongly about as players but also as people. I think Justin’s one of those types of guys.”
Madubuike was particularly pleased to get his new deal done early with new defensive coordinator Zach Orr donning a fresh headset. In his first statements as a long-term Raven, Madubuike revealed that Orr was one of the first to see his true potential: amidst the heartbreak of the Wild Card playoff loss to Cincinnati in January 2023, Orr, then a linebackers coach, comforted Madubuike by telling him he was destined for All-Pro consideration, a prophecy he fulfilled last season with second-team honors.
"It’s just another year of getting comfortable with the technique that we want at all those different positions," Orr lauded. "That way, teams can’t just focus in on one spot where he’s at. That’s how I see him getting better.”
Madubuike is living up to that sense of consistency, fulfilling Baltimore's apparent requirement for passer pursuers. In just four seasons since coming out as a third-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2020, Madubuike has been a constant visitor in opposing backfields, ranking as one of the NFL's pressure masters. He already ranks 12th on the Ravens' all-time sack ledgers with 21.5.
A contract year brought about significant statistical improvement, as Madubuike earned 13 sacks and 33 further pressures, numbers that earned fringe consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year title.
With no questions about his future, Madubuike is now focused on solving the mysteries of the present, namely where he's poised to fit in Orr's new playbook.
“I feel like I have a very unique body type,” Madubuike said. “I’m strong enough to hold myself in terms of being a nose (tackle). I’m quick enough and agile enough to rush as a three (technique). I’m also fast enough to burn the edge. It’s just the hard work and the consistency and the standard I hold myself to.”
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