John Harbaugh shares strong words on a key Ravens starter who is in line for a big payday
Multiple players across the NFL are enjoying their best season yet in a contract year, including Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. Madubuike has already recorded career highs across the board this season, from quarterback hits (18) to tackles for loss (10). The former Texas A&M standout leads all Ravens players in sacks with 9.5, […]
Multiple players across the NFL are enjoying their best season yet in a contract year, including Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.
Madubuike has already recorded career highs across the board this season, from quarterback hits (18) to tackles for loss (10). The former Texas A&M standout leads all Ravens players in sacks with 9.5, and he has logged at least 1.0 sacks in six consecutive contests.
The fourth-year defensive lineman has also helped Baltimore rank second in points per game allowed with a 16.1 average.
Madubuike’s breakout campaign has come as no surprise to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
"Nothing really has surprised me, because I knew he was going to have a great season," Harbaugh said ahead of Week 12. "You could see it in the spring [and in] the summer. You kind of saw it over the last couple of years.
"The talent has really been there, and, again, it's really a developmental thing. Guys grow as players. A third-round pick, a lot of talent, and [he] has always played well for us. … The technique [is] more consistent. Much more consistent technique-wise play-to-play than he had been before, and it's showing up more in his stats."
Madubuike is set to become a free agent after this season, as he is playing in the final year of his rookie contract. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta sure will have multiple dilemmas to address during next year’s free agency period, especially as the likes of Patrick Queen and Michael Pierce will also be out of a contract.
