Should Ravens Franchise Tag DT Justin Madubuike?

Justin Madubuike had a career season for the Baltimore Ravens in his contract year.

Few players picked a better time to have a career year than Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. 

The fourth-year defensive tackle set career highs and led the Ravens in sacks (13), tackles for loss (12) and quarterback hits (33). Now, Madubuike is set to potentially cash in this offseason if he hits free agency.

Justin Madubuike / USA Today

Will the Ravens let him get to that point? 

The Ravens website noted that if Baltimore and Madubuike can't agree on a deal, he'll likely receive the franchise tag. 

"I'm guessing they'll place the franchise tag on Madubuike if they can't agree on a new contract," the Ravens website writes. "He's one of the NFL's best interior linemen coming off a career year with 13 sacks. Madubuike is in his prime at age 26, and his ability to generate consistent pressure up the middle is a major asset that many defenses don't have. 

"Madubuike, [Jadeveon] Clowney (9.5 sacks), and [Kyle] Van Noy (9) are pending free agents, and I don't see the Ravens letting the team's top three sack leaders from 2023 all leave." 

Clowney and Van Noy are each over 30 years old, so making a long-term commitment to either could prove risky. That will likely force Baltimore to lean on young edge rushers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo next season.

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Madubuike, 26, isn't the only important young free agent on a defense that led the NFL in sacks (60), tied for first in turnovers (31) and allowed the fewest points per game (16.5). Linebacker Patrick Queen, 24, also had the best season of his career with 133 tackles, including nine for a loss, and 3.5 sacks. 

To combine the issue of keeping all of their talent on defense, Baltimore is projected to have just over $5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. Teams have found ways to make more cap space through restructuring contracts and cutting players, and Baltimore will likely have no choice but to take that route this offseason. 

Keeping both will prove difficult and using the franchise tag is probably the Ravens' only feasible path to keeping their core on defense together. If negotiations prove tough with Madubuike, he's the guy Baltimore can't afford to lose after his performance last season, and he has to be the player the Ravens franchise tag if it gets to that point.