Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens signed veteran nose tackle to a one-year, $2.1 million contract extension on Friday. Here are the initial reactions from Baltimore Beatdown’s staff:
Jenkins turned out to be a crucial offseason signing by Eric DeCosta. Initially pegged as the Ravens’ No. 2 nose tackle, he has taken on a starting role and played some of the best ball of his career in his age-36 season. Keeping him on a cheap one-year deal feels like a smart move by DeCosta given the uncertainty surrounding Nnamdi Madubuike and the team’s 2026 defensive line in general. Broderick Washington feels like a potential, if not likely, cap casualty, and only Travis Jones and Aeneas Peebles were under contract next year. (C.J. Okoye can be retained for cheap as an exclusive rights free agent, too). Jenkins’ experience in the defensive line room amid an up-and-down season hasn’t hurt, either, and he has enjoyed his time in Baltimore so far. Both will carry into 2026. – Nikhil Mehta
I was not expecting any more extensions before the end of the season, but this is a welcomed one. John Jenkins has exceeded my expectations as Michael Pierce’s short-term successor, and in a future where Nnamdi Madubuike’s presence is uncertain, it was (and will continue to be) important to keep around the current IDL pieces. With Travis Jones and now Jenkins both extended, two important members of the Ravens front seven will be around next year. I still expect an early draft addition to this unit in the offseason. – Mark Myers
This is an unexpected extension before the end of the season, but John Jenkins has earned it. I did not have high expectations for Jenkins when the Ravens signed him this offseason after the retirement of nose tackle Michael Pierce, but he has filled in admirably at the position. This has allowed Travis Jones to play more at 3-tech in the absence of Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington, where he has excelled and earned a contract extension of his own. Baltimore still needs to address the defensive line this offseason, considering Jenkins’ age, the unknown status of Madubuike, and the potential release of Washington, but Jenkins and Jones, if healthy, provide a solid floor to start with in the trenches. – Dustin Cox
While the Ravens have talked about wanting to get a couple more extensions done before the end of the season, this one wasn’t on my radar. But it’s a great move considering the state of the line going into 2026. Jenkins has been a steady rock in the run game following the departure of Michael Pierce and was a tick better than expected in the pass rush game as well. With Madubuike’s career still in question, adding another piece to pair with recently extended Travis Jones isn’t a bad thing. The Ravens are going to need more top end talent jumping into next season but this is a good starting point for depth. – Zach Canter
