ExtremeRavens Posted March 12 Posted March 12 One day after Justin Madubuike agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Ravens that made him temporarily the second-best paid defensive tackle in the NFL, Kansas City’s Chris Jones came to terms with the Chiefs to make him the highest. They were already in an elite category, according to Joe Cullen, who has coached each in the NFL, but the paydays cement it. Cullen, as the Ravens defensive line coach, helped mold Madubuike as a rookie after he was selected in the third round of the 2020 draft. “I thought he played well for a rookie, and the next two years he really progressed,” said Cullen, who last month won his second straight Super Bowl with the Chiefs as their defensive line coach. “I thought he and Chris were the two best defensive tackles in the league this past season. “That’s a good leap. You got [Los Angeles Rams’] Aaron Donald, but in terms of complete players, they are the best. I’m not shocked at his success because he is a great person and has a strong work ethic.” Coming off his first Pro Bowl selection, Madubuike agreed to a four-year deal worth a reported $98 million with $75.5 million guaranteed. Jones agreed to a five-year deal worth a reported $158.75 million, including $101 million in guarantees. His $31.8 million per season is slightly higher than the $31.7 million average Donald makes as part of his three-year deal signed in 2022. That’s no accident. And the market got even bigger on Monday when former Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins reportedly agreed to a four-year, $110 million deal, of which $84.75 million is guaranteed, with the the Las Vegas Raiders. According to Cullen, it was inevitable that Madubuike would become one of the best at his position. The Ravens and Cullen had the Texas A&M standout rated similarly to Alabama’s Raekwon Davis, who was selected by Miami in the second round in the same draft. The knock on the 6-3, 305-pound Madubuike coming out of college was his inconsistency. But Cullen noticed that he played well against some of the premier teams in college, including Georgia. The Ravens also couldn’t interview him personally because of coronavirus restrictions, so Cullen turned to some of his former coaching buddies — offensive line coach Jimmy Turner and defensive line assistant Elijah Robinson — at Texas A&M to evaluate Madubuike. “It was hard to gauge everything but they said he was the best guy in the locker room and I trusted those guys,” Cullen said. “I thought he was explosive, really had power. He could beat you with speed. He was quick, he was tough. And he played really well against Georgia that year. I kept going back, looking at that game, because there was a knock. He didn’t play well on double teams. Against Georgia, the best team in the country, he played really well.” Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike sacks Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the AFC championship game in January. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Madubuike slowly yet gradually got better. Now 26, the Ravens needed to sign him to a contract extension. Former Ravens coach and the late Ted Marchibroda coined the phrase “Play Like A Raven,” and nobody symbolizes it more. He reshaped and sculpted his body after his rookie season. He is extremely polite and respectful and has been one of the hardest workers in the weight room. And on game day, he flicks that switch. “He always had that high IQ, was a great worker on the field and in the weight room,” Cullen said. “If he didn’t get it right away, he’d show up early or stay late — whatever he had to do. If he didn’t get it, he’d wear you out on the field as far as wanting knowledge. “He comes from an athletic and respectable family. But you don’t want to tick him off; he’d rip your head off. He is one guy in the locker room that no one messes with, I can guarantee you that.” Madubike has always had that explosion off the snap. He was slowed in his rookie season by a meniscus injury but still played in 10 games, finishing with 19 tackles. Over the past two seasons, his career has only skyrocketed despite sharing playing time with Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, Broderick Washington and Brandon Williams. A key, Cullen said, was Anthony Weaver, who coached the defensive line the past two seasons but left this offseason to become the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator. Madubuike had 56 tackles, including 12 for loss, this past season, to go with a team-high 13 sacks, which ed all interior NFL linemen. More important were his 64 pressures and 33 hits on the quarterback. Very few tackles can be so disruptive against both the run and the pass. He was just as disruptive as Jones, who finished with 30 tackles, including 13 for loss, during the regular season, and 10 1/2 sacks. Jones has played a high level for longer and has drawn the game plan of opposing offenses, so it will be interesting to see how Madubuike handles that change next year. He won’t be sneaking up on anybody in 2024. Regardless, he will be around for at least four more years because when you have an anchor in the middle of a defense, you don’t let him go. “Both Justin and Chris are players neither team could afford to lose,” Cullen said. View the full article Quote
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