Jan. 28, 2026, 7:17 p.m. ET
The Baltimore Ravens declined from No. 2 in the NFL in sacks per game in 2024 to No. 28 in 2025. While most critics blame former defensive coordinator Zach Orr for the decline, they simultaneously undermine the absence of superstar talent defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who missed 15 games with a serious neck injury.
Surely, new head coach Jesse Minter will be happy to have Madubuike back in 2026. Madubuike had 13 sacks in 2023 and 6.5 sacks in 2024 to account for the total that led to that No. 2 sacks per game ranking mentioned above. Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, who worked in Minter’s scheme last season, totaled 10 sacks in 2024 for the Ravens. Well, simple math clearly shows that the pass-rush problems weren’t mainly a result of bad scheme but of a change in personnel.Â
In 2026, Madubuike will hopefully get a fresh slate to resume his career and continue to wreak havoc on opponents in the trenches. Madubuike was wise to make the prudent decision to let his neck heal instead of risking and worsening an injury that could easily result from being piled up at the line of scrimmage. With a new head coach and a fresh approach, fans may see Madubuike and the Ravens re-emerge as a defensive powerhouse in 2026. They’ll certainly want to forget about how this past season went. Minter will prioritize fixing the pass rush in 2026, and other rumors about potential acquisitions should give Ravens fans reason to be optimistic.
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