Ravens to extend DL Broderick Washington

Broderick Washington will not play out a contract year with the Ravens. The fourth-year defensive lineman agreed to terms on a three-year extension with the team Wednesday morning, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports (on X, formerly known as Twitter).

The former fifth-round pick will stay in Baltimore beyond 2023 on a three-year, $17.5M deal that Wilson adds contains $10M in total guarantees. Washington emerged as a starter last season, with more being expected of him this year. The Ravens will illustrate their commitment via this through-2026 deal.

This represents a nice payday for a player who had two starts on his resume through two seasons. A former fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech, Washington stepped in as a nine-game starter in 2022. The Ravens released Calais Campbell this offseason, leading him to the Falcons. In the D-line stalwart’s place, Washington is expected to step in on a full-time basis alongside Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce.

Baltimore frequently lets role players leave in free agency in exchange for compensatory picks, but Washington will become an exception — even as the Ravens begin building around Lamar Jackson‘s $52M-per-year contract. With Pierce going into his age-31 season and coming off an injury-shortened 2022, Baltimore has identified one of its future D-line pillars. Madubuike, who has started 30 games in his three-year career, remains unsigned beyond this season. As our Ely Allen pointed out earlier this summer, Madubuike (5.5 sacks last year) may be slightly pricier to extend.

Washington and Madubuike (Round 3, 2020) have seen their roles grow during a period in which the Ravens had seen some veterans go down with injuries or leave in free agency. Pierce missed 14 games last season, while Derek Wolfe‘s Ravens career came to an abrupt halt after re-signing in 2021. The team did not give longtime D-tackle bastion Brandon Williams a third contract after his second expired last year.

Washington, 26, has steadily grown as a contributor. After playing 283 defensive snaps in 2021, he was on the field for 483 last season. The 304-pound D-lineman totaled 49 tackles and deflected six passes. Pro Football Focus placed Washington’s 2022 season 31st among interior D-linemen.

Entering training camp, the Ravens had cogs at every other defensive position signed long term. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Williams and Roquan Smith are tied to big-ticket veteran extensions, while Kyle Hamilton, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo are signed beyond 2023 on rookie deals. Baltimore’s defensive line, conversely, had been fairly unsettled. Pierce joins Madubuike in being unsigned beyond this season. This Washington deal will provide the AFC North franchise some clarity along its front.