The Ravens and Broderick Washington have agreed to a new contract extension, the team announced Aug. 9, meaning one of the emerging stars along the defensive line will remain in the organization for the foreseeable future.
Washington, a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas Tech in 2020, was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Terms of the new deal were not announced, but The Athletic reported it to be worth $15.75 million for the life of the three-year extension and $16.83 million including this season.
“I’m just blessed to even be in the position,” Washington said as he met with the media after the deal was announced. “I’m glad my mom wasn’t here. I would have cried, and I’m kind of, supposedly a tough guy here. … I’m happy to be able to be home for the next three years, and I’m glad it’s here.”
Washington (6-foot-2, 315 pounds) is listed as the starting defensive end in the Ravens’ first depth chart, released before the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium on Aug. 12.
Washington, 26, played in every game last season, including nine starts across the front of the Ravens’ 3-4 defense. He made seven starts at nose tackle, one at defensive end and one at defensive tackle. He finished with a career-best 49 tackles, including two for loss and one sack and played a career-best 44 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
In three seasons, Washington has 67 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and seven quarterback hits in 39 games, including 11 starts.
Through the first two weeks of training camp, the Ravens’ defensive line has been one of the standout position groups. Justin Madubuike has been a daily force inside, and the unit returns everyone from last season except veteran end Calais Campbell.
Nose tackle Michael Pierce is back after missing almost all of last season with a biceps injury, and he, Washington and Madubuike are backed up by solid role players Brent Urban and Travis Jones. Angelo Blackson, who has 42 NFL starts, including four with the Chicago Bears last season, adds a veteran presence.
Of the top six, only Jones, entering the second year of his four-year rookie deal, had been signed beyond this season before Washington was extended. Washington is now under contract through the 2026 season.
“I don’t know that there’s a person in this building that works harder than Broderick Washington,” defensive line coach Anthony Weaver said when he met with the media last week. “If you even look [at] his body from when he got [here] to how it is now, he looks completely different. You talk about a guy that’s taken every bit of coaching and then some — it’s him. So I’m not surprised by any of his success, and I would expect more.”
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