Sub-defensive tackle:
Contenders: Daylon Mack vs. Justin Ellis vs. Justin Madubuike vs. Broderick Washington
Gone is Michael Pierce, a three-year starter for the Baltimore Ravens, via Free Agency. To replace him is Brandon Williams, who has been the team’s 3-tech defensive tackle over the last three years. Derek Wolfe was brought in this offseason to take Williams’ spot at 3-tech. The front-three looks terrific with those two and Calais Campbell taking those spots.
Beyond those three it becomes a crapshoot who the next guy is. Baltimore will run a lot of nickel packages, meaning they’ll only use two down-linemen. For sub-packages, who would be the guy to flex out for Williams?
The Ravens did draft Daylon Mack in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft and it seemed that he was Pierce’s eventual replacement. However, the team added two more guys to this group in Justin Madubuike (third-round) and Broderick Washington (fifth-round). Madubuike, in particular, brings a very well-rounded game compared to the other two.
Justin Ellis was also brought back for 2020 after being a mid-season signing in 2019. Ellis is a strong fixture to be the team’s second-string nose tackle and his experience could get him the edge over these young guys.
Baltimore’s starting three are as good as any in the league, so they won’t need to worry too much about who’s next up. The depth here is really nice and it will be fun to see who emerges as the next-best player here.