The Ravens have officially placed the franchise tag on Pro Bowl defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, ensuring he will be in Baltimore for at least the 2024 season.
Baltimore had until 4 p.m. today to reach a long-term deal with Madubuike before he would have been eligible to become a free agent. By placing the tag on him, the Ravens have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term deal with Madubuike. If no deal is reached by then, he will play under the one-year franchise tag terms.
"We were unable to agree on a contract extension with Justin before the deadline and will use the franchise tag," General Manager Eric DeCosta stated. "Justin is a great player and person, and we will continue to negotiate a long-term deal with him."
The franchise tag will cost the Ravens $22.1 million against the salary cap, which will require more cap-clearing moves. Baltimore must be under the cap when free agency opens on March 13.
A new agreement would come with a smaller Year 1 salary-cap hit and mean less money shuffling and more ability to retain or bring in other free agents.
The 26-year-old Madubuike led the Ravens and all NFL defensive linemen with 13 sacks last season. He also tied the NFL record by registering at least a half sack in 11 consecutive games.
Check out these shots of Ravens DT Justin Madubuike, who was given the franchise tag Tuesday.
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The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 17-10 during the AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.
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The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 31-24 at State Farm Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.
The Baltimore Ravens secured the number one playoff seed and became AFC North Champions after they defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD on December 31, 2023.
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The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium on January 6, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 37-3 at M&T Bank Stadium on November 5, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland January 1, 2023 13-16
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland January 1, 2023 13-16
Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland December 24, 2022 17-9
DT Justin Madubuike / The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 27-3 at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.
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The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 17-10 during the AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game by a score of 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD on January 28, 2024.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland October 9, 2022 19-17
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DT Justin Madubuike
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DT Justin Madubuike, DT Justin Ellis
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals October 24, 2021
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DT Justin Madubuike
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The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins November 11, 2021
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans by a score of 24-16 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England on October 15, 2023.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Las Vegas Raiders September 13, 2021 Overtime
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans by a score of 24-16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Tottenham, London, United Kingdom.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers December 19, 2021
Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers December 19, 2021
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns November 28, 2021
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The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans by a score of 24-16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Tottenham, London, United Kingdom.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs September 19, 2021
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 34-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on November 16, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers December 5, 2021
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns November 28, 2021
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals October 24, 2021
The Baltimore Ravens secured the number one playoff seed and became AFC North Champions after they defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD on December 31, 2023.
The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game by a score of 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD on January 28, 2024.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Carolina Panthers August 21, 2021 20-3
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns November 28, 2021
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The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 40-14 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans by a score of 25-9 at M&T Bank Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 34-10 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
DT Justin Madubuike
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Seattle Seahawks 37-3 on November 5, 2023 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 40-14 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 56-19, clinching the #1 seed in the AFC at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 37-3 at M&T Bank Stadium on November 5, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 19-22 at M&T Bank Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 19-22 at M&T Bank Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 27-3 at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, MD.
He has continuously gotten better, and at least doubled his sack total each of his four seasons. Madubuike had 33 quarterback hits and was named to his first Pro Bowl after the 2023 season.
While at the Pro Bowl last month, Madubuike said he’s leaving contract talk to his agent.
"In terms of Baltimore, man, that's home," he said. "But, you know, business is business, and that side is going to take care of itself."
The Ravens have now used the franchise tag 11 times in team history. They have eventually reached long-term deals with six of the previous eight players.
In the Ravens' 28-year history, the franchise tag has been used on these nine diverse players.
2024 – DT Justin Madubuike
Madubuike had a monster contract year with a team-high 13 sacks, which was also the most in the NFL by any defensive lineman. Madubuike improved every season in Baltimore and has developed into a rare talent at creating pressure from the interior defensive line while also being a strong run defender.
2023 – QB Lamar Jackson
The Ravens placed the non-exclusive tag on Jackson last offseason amid their contract negotiations. That allowed for other teams to still pursue the quarterback if they so desired with the Ravens able to match any offer, but no other suitors materialized. Jackson and the Ravens eventually agreed to a new contract on the first day of the NFL Draft.
2020 – OLB Matthew Judon
Judon got the tag following a breakout 2019 season in which he logged 9.5 sacks – a career-high at that point. He followed it up with six sacks the following season and hit the free-agent market, where he signed with the New England Patriots. Judon then set new career highs in sacks the following two years (12.5 in 2021 and 15.5 in 2022).
2016 – K Justin Tucker
After a strong 2015 season in which Tucker became the fastest kicker in NFL history to score 500 points (60 games), the Ravens placed the tag on him in March. The two sides used the extra time to strike a reported four year, $16.8 million deal in mid-July. It made Tucker the second highest-paid kicker in the league, and his $10.8 million in guaranteed money was a new record for NFL kickers. Tucker showed he was worth the money, as he was voted to his second Pro Bowl in 2016 and became the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He made all 27 of this extra-point attempts and missed just one of his 39 field-goal attempts because it was blocked.
2012 – RB Ray Rice
Following the best season of Rice's career, in which he posted more than 2,000 total yards, the Ravens put the tag on the running back in early March. The two sides reached a five-year, reported $40 million deal in mid-July.
2011 – DT Haloti Ngata
After going to his second straight Pro Bowl, Ngata got tagged in mid-February. It looked like he might play the year out under the tag (as his predecessors McAlister and Suggs had done), but the two sides reached a deal minutes before the deadline, which came two weeks into the season. Ngata signed a five-year deal worth a reported $61 million.
2008 & 2009 – OLB Terrell Suggs
Even after posting a then career-low five sacks in 2007, the Ravens franchised Suggs. In 2008, he posted eight sacks and two interceptions to help Baltimore reach the AFC championship and got the tag again. However, Suggs signed a six-year contract, reportedly worth $63 million that July, making him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history and keeping him off the free-agent market.
2003 & 2004 – CB Chris McAlister
McAlister logged a career-high 17 pass deflections in 2002 and the Ravens slapped the tag on him for the following season. McAlister went on to have a Pro Bowl season in 2003 and got the tag again before the 2004 campaign. He inked a reported seven-year, $55 million contract in mid-October and went on to have another Pro Bowl year.
1998 – G Wally Williams
After spending two years in Baltimore and starting a combined 23 games over that span, the Ravens put the tag on Williams before the 1998 season. He started 13 games that year (seven at left guard and six at center). Afterwards, he signed a five-year deal with New Orleans. Williams was the first of only two Ravens to be franchised and not get a new deal with Baltimore.
