The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2023 season with one of the league’s top defenses and one of the best in franchise history. One major component to that was the breakout of defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in his fourth season. The athletic defensive tackle had flashes in his first three seasons, but he catapulted his game to the next level in 2023 with a team-leading 13 sacks. This led to a significant payday for Madubuike from the Ravens this offseason.
After such a phenomenal season that led to his becoming one of Balitmore’s highest-paid stars, Madubuike was asked if he felt added pressure this year.
“I wouldn’t say pressure; I would say expectations from people,” Madubuike said. “Teams are definitely going to be maybe blocking me different. [I’m] expecting different ways that they’re going to try to slow me down. I guess you could say pressure in terms of pressuring myself to stay polished and stay focused and stay better than I was last year. That’s the only pressure I feel. Outside of that it’s just expectations, and the world will keep working.”
The Ravens will rely on Madubuike even more this season after losing outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who was second in sacks on the team with 9.5 and a major force in applying pressure and allowing others to benefit in the front seven.
