Predicting Ravens next 3 moves after likely franchise tagging Justin Madubuike

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2024 offseason with no greater goal than figuring out what to do with standout defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. In just one year, Madubuike went from a solid rotational lineman to an indispensable piece of the Ravens' defensive infrastructure.

Madubuike knows this is his best chance to cash in, as the franchise tag number just crept north of $22 million for interior defensive tackles while others in his position have been rewarded with gigantic contracts. All signs point to him ending up back in Baltimore for 2024, at the very least.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta confirmed at the 2024 NFL Combine that Baltimore and Madubuike are trying to come together on a long-term contract. If no deal can be reached in the next few days, DeCosta said Baltimore would hit Madubuike with the franchise tag to keep him in town.

While DeCosta said that Baltimore is not going to be a super-aggressive spender, that doesn't mean he'll just let the roster die on the vine by not making any moves. These three transactions could all follow a Madubuike move once the pass-rushing star finally ends up putting pen to paper.

Predicting the Baltimore Ravens next 3 moves after Justin Madubuike deal

3. Sign Jadeveon Clowney

With Patrick Queen likely pricing himself out of a return and Geno Stone not viewed as a necessity due to the presence of Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams at safety, the Ravens' most important free agent to retain on the defensive side of the ball just might be Clowney after his own breakout season.

Clowney turned back the clock to his Pro Bowl days in Houston, as his 9.5 sacks and tremendous pressure numbers helped revitalize his career. While his price has gone up, it likely hasn't risen to the point where he has priced himself out of a return to Baltimore's front six.

The Baltimore Ravens need to keep Jadeveon Clowney.

The Ravens might find to hard to replenish their pass-rushing depth without spending a ton of money. Clowney isn't going to break the bank. He already has the familiarity with the coaching staff, and he has quickly become a fan favorite among the Flock thanks to his penchant for making big plays.

Clowney has been linked to the Miami Dolphins in the past, as the combination of linking back up with former Ravens DL coach Anthony Weaver and no state tax while still competing for a title could be appealing. Losing Clowney would be brutal, as no mid-round rookie or veteran backup could match his production.