Why Ravens Believe DT Justin Madubuike Can Find 'Next Level'

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is entering a contract year - and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald believes he's poised to thrive.

When the Baltimore Ravens selected defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they did so with the belief that he could develop into a key cog up front.

And across the past three seasons, Madubuike has largely done exactly that, bettering his production from the year prior in each campaign.

The 25-year-old Madubuike's growth hit new highs in 2022, as he started 16 games and posted eight tackles for loss, five and a half sacks and nine quarterback hits while proving to be a steady contributor on Baltimore's interior defensive line.

Perhaps most importantly, Madubuike only continued his ascent this spring, impressing coaches with his work throughout the offseason ... and Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is a noted fan of the former Texas A&M standout's skill set and upside.

"It's just another year in the system," Macdonald said of Madubuike's development. "He's been here every day, he works extremely hard, he's an extremely tough player, very physical." 

Madubuike, set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, suddenly finds himself as an elder statesman on the defensive front, simply one of several notions that illustrate his impact on Baltimore's unit.

But the 6-3, 293-pound Madubuike wants to bring more this coming season ... and Macdonald is stressing the same principles inside the building.

"(We're) trying to encourage him to take his game to the next level, especially (his) interior pass rush game," Macdonald said. "Taking charge (and) making some calls on how we want to apply our pass rush rules for that day."

As for the Ravens' defensive line, Macdonald feels the group works well together, and he anticipates a big payoff this fall - led by Madubuike both on and off the field.

And for that, there's plenty of excitement surrounding Madubuike's trajectory ... and reason to believe that he's more than capable of reaching that "next level" this season.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter at @DFlickDraft

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