It feels like Justin Madubuike is not leaving Baltimore this offseason.
Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta stated he plans to put the franchise tag on the pending free agent defensive deal with if a long-term deal is not reached earlier than March 5, the deadline to use the tag.
“We most likely will, sure,” DeCosta stated throughout his Tuesday press convention on the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The Ravens have till March 5 (every week away) to achieve a long-term take care of Madubuike earlier than they would wish to put the tag on him. If they place the tag on him, Baltimore would nonetheless have till July 15 to hammer out a long-term deal, however they must make salary-cap area for the tag earlier than then.
The franchise tag would value the Ravens $22.1 million in opposition to the wage cap, which might require extra cap-clearing strikes. The Ravens at the moment have $16.6 million in wage cap area, per Over The Cap. Baltimore should be below the cap when free company opens on March 13.
The choice could be to strike a deal, which might include a small Year 1 salary-cap hit and imply much less cash shuffling and extra skill to retain or herald different free brokers. DeCosta stated the 2 sides are engaged on that, and negotiations may happen on the Combine.
“We’re attempting to get a deal carried out. We’ve had discussions with Justin,” DeCosta stated. “He’s a man that has clearly put himself in a fortuitous place this yr by the way in which that he performed. He had an amazing season for us. He’s a valued participant on the group and hopefully we are able to get a long-term deal carried out.”
Madubuike led the Ravens and all defensive linemen with 13 sacks final season. He has constantly gotten higher, and at the least doubled his sack whole every of his 4 seasons. Madubuike had 33 quarterback hits and was named to his first Pro Bowl.
