General manager Eric DeCosta, Ozzie Newsome’s successor, has grown increasingly aggressive in handing out contracts, and he’s now built a Super Bowl hopeful for 2023 and beyond.
Baltimore currently has about $6,626,029 in cap space per Over The Cap, and they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.
The Ravens also have 26 players scheduled to hit free agency, and some tough decisions will be made regarding who returns to Baltimore.
ESPN recently did an early ranking of the top 25 free agents for 2024, and John Harbaugh’s squad had two players make the list or land on the honorable mentions.
The overall positional spending will change in the coming years after Lamar Jackson signed a massive five-year, $260 million contract extension, making him among the three highest-paid players on average in NFL history.
13. Justin Madubuike, DT, Baltimore Ravens
The stout defensive tackle could price himself out of a return to Baltimore.
2023 salary: $2.7 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26Why he could get paid: Madubuike has already recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks this season after posting 5.5 in 2022. The foot quickness jumps on the tape, as does the short-area juice, which allows Madubuike to leverage blockers and create interior pressure. The arrow is pointing up on him; he can win one-on-one or push the pocket in schemed fronts. — Bowen
What we’re hearing: While Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins are the more well-known names at interior defensive line, Madubuike is also in line to earn big dollars in March. Like Robert Hunt, he’s in the category of “he’ll make more money than people think.” He’s a major disruptor in the Ravens’ 3-4 scheme. The Giants need a Leonard Williams replacement, and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale could tap into his old team’s current roster for help. — Fowler
Others who could get paid-- Patrick Queen
The Ravens declined the fifth-year option on Queen, and all he’s done is put his head down and work alongside Roquan Smith.
Queen set career highs in tackles (117), sacks (five), interceptions (two) and passes defended (six) in 2022.
This season, Queen has 75 tackles (2nd to Roquan Smith), 57 solo stops, 4 sacks, 3 QB hurries, and 8 QB pressures. With Trent Simpson getting off to a slow start, Queen has earned a contract extension.
