Ravens President Sashi Brown says it's too early for clarity on Nnamdi Madubuike's status for next season.
The Pro Bowl defensive tackle suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 of the 2025 season. ESPN's Jamison Hensley wrote last week that there has been “growing optimism” that Madubuike will return, but no further details were provided.
Brown was asked about Madubuike's status on Monday during the NFL's owners meetings in Phoenix.
"It'd be too early to opine or express any optimism or pessimism," Brown said. "Don't read into it one way or the other. He's going to have to get himself to a point here where he and [General Manager] Eric [DeCosta], I'm sure, are going to have plenty of conversations. Even when that time comes, I'll let Eric comment."
The Lounge #902: Updates from NFL Owners Meetings, What NFC Coaches Said About the Ravens
Team insiders Garrett Downing and Clifton Brown provide updates from the NFL's Annual League Meetings in Phoenix, including takeaways from Team President Sashi Brown's time with local reporters, and what head coaches Mike Macdonald and John Harbaugh had to say about the Ravens.
Brown Talks About the Possibility of Baltimore Hosting the NFL Draft
The NFL draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh in April and in Washington, D.C. in 2027, has become an event coveted by many cities. Brown said that bringing a future NFL draft to downtown Baltimore remains a realistic goal.
"We're still in active communication with the league," Brown said. "These are rolling processes where the league gets a chance to know the local market. We're very much working with public, civic partners, the city of Baltimore, the state, but also in communication with the league. I think we're going to continue to have strong prospects in bringing the draft, but until that happens, we're working on it really hard."
As the draft has evolved into a mobile spectacle, it's bounced around from city to city. Minnesota has already submitted a bid to host the 2028 NFL Draft. However, Brown believes the renovations to M&T Bank Stadium that have continued this offseason have enhanced Baltimore's chances to host the event, along with other features in the surrounding area.
"There's a lot of assets in and around Baltimore that make it tremendously unique," Brown said. "The harbor and the development around. We have one of the most unique sports complexes with the baseball stadium and a football stadium that can see each other from our parking lots.
"There's a lot of opportunity for us to do some really creative things. We are exploring all of those."
Brown Comments on Potential 18-Game Schedule
There has been talk that the league is headed toward an 18-game regular schedule, and that talk continued to heat up in Arizona.
While others across the league gave their opinions, Brown said the Ravens will let the league and the NFL Players Association sort it out.
"We'd leave that to the league and the union to negotiate," Brown said. "We're all watching it closely. That's always going to have to be a negotiation and compromise that works for both sides. We have a ton of respect for where we think the players' interests are. I think, collectively, both sides see an opportunity, but we've got to work through what that may mean and how we make it work."
Other team representatives discussed the idea, including Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, who advocated for an 18-game season that includes one less preseason game and the addition of a second bye week.
The NFL last expanded its regular-season schedule for the first time in 43 years in 2021, when a 17th game was added.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about an 18-game season before February's Super Bowl and didn't indicate a change was imminent.
"We have not had any formal discussions about it, and frankly, very little, if any informal conversations," Goodell said. "… It is not a given that we'll do that."
Ravens Value Lamar Jackson's Opinion 'Tremendously'
While he deferred to DeCosta to provide any update on a Lamar Jackson extension, Brown made it clear how valuable Jackson is on and off the field as he enters Year 9.
Brown said it was great to have Jackson involved in the head coach search and virtually participate in the final interview with Jesse Minter.
"He's at a point in his career where he's seen so much, so we value his opinion tremendously," Brown said. "He's shaped and led our organization and it's great to have his involvement."
