Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike might return to assist Jesse Minter in 2026

[ad_1] The Baltimore Ravens declined from No. 2 within the NFL in sacks per sport in 2024 to No. 28 in 2025. Whereas most critics blame former defensive coordinator Zach Orr for the decline, they concurrently undermine the absence of celebrity expertise defensive sort out Nnamdi Madubuike, who missed 15 video games with a severe neck damage.

<img alt="BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass as Nnamdi Madubuike #92 of the Baltimore Ravens pressures during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="640" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="standard-img" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DNpKe0Zf3w3xB5pbHhIM1Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/baltimore_ravens_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_532/2243a29ebd4eae070ad3b47367d1222d"/> BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns throws a move as Nnamdi Madubuike #92 of the Baltimore Ravens pressures throughout the second quarter at M&T Financial institution Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photograph by Rob Carr/Getty Pictures)

Absolutely, new head coach Jesse Minter can be joyful to have Madubuike again in 2026. Madubuike had 13 sacks in 2023 and 6.5 sacks in 2024 to account for the entire that led to that No. 2 sacks per sport rating talked about above. Los Angeles Chargers exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh, who labored in Minter's scheme final season, totaled 10 sacks in 2024 for the Ravens. Nicely, simple arithmetic clearly exhibits that the pass-rush issues weren't primarily a results of unhealthy scheme however of a change in personnel.

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In 2026, Madubuike will hopefully get a contemporary slate to renew his profession and proceed to wreak havoc on opponents within the trenches. Madubuike was sensible to make the prudent choice to let his neck heal as a substitute of risking and worsening an damage that would simply end result from being piled up on the line of scrimmage. With a brand new head coach and a contemporary strategy, followers may even see Madubuike and the Ravens re-emerge as a defensive powerhouse in 2026. They will actually wish to overlook about how this previous season went. Minter will prioritize fixing the move rush in 2026, and different rumors about potential acquisitions ought to give Ravens followers purpose to be optimistic.