Ravens Defensive Tackle Depth Chart: Baltimore Has Star Power, Size And One Huge Health Question

The Ravens’ defensive tackle room is one of the most important position groups on the 2026 roster because Baltimore’s defense still starts with power up front. The current projected defensive line depth chart has Travis Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike as starters, with John Jenkins and Broderick Washington Jr. as veteran backups and C.J. Okoye, Aeneas Peebles and Rayshaun Benny competing for roles. Baltimore also brought back Calais Campbell, giving the line another veteran chess piece even if Campbell is more of a 3-4 defensive end than a pure nose tackle.

Projected Ravens DT / Interior Defensive Line Depth Chart

Starters:

1. Travis Jones
2. Nnamdi Madubuike

Top rotation:
3. Calais Campbell
4. John Jenkins
5. Broderick Washington Jr.

Roster battle / developmental depth:
6. Aeneas Peebles
7. C.J. Okoye
8. Rayshaun Benny

Travis Jones — Starter / Nose Tackle

Jones has become the tone-setter inside. Baltimore extended him during the 2025 season, and the numbers show why. The Ravens listed Jones at 6-foot-4, 341 pounds, and he had 34 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and five quarterback hits through 12 games when the extension was announced. Baltimore’s site also noted that he had played 67% of the defensive snaps over his four seasons to that point.

Jones’ full 2025 stat line showed the jump: 20 solo tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble, according to ESPN. PFF also graded Jones as one of the league’s best interior defenders in 2025, crediting him with an 80.1 overall grade, seventh among qualified interior defensive linemen, and an 82.8 run-defense grade, third at the position.

Jones is the Ravens’ best pure nose tackle. The 341-pounder can play shaded over the center, eat double teams and keep linebackers clean. That matters in Baltimore because Roquan Smith and the second-level defenders are at their best when the defensive tackles occupy blockers instead of getting washed sideways.

Jones also gives Baltimore more pass-rush juice than a traditional nose tackle. Five sacks from that body type is major production. Nose tackles do not need to win with finesse every snap, but Jones has enough power to collapse the pocket and force quarterbacks off their spot. That makes life easier for Baltimore’s edge rushers and blitz packages.

Nnamdi Madubuike — Starter / 3-Technique

Madubuike remains the biggest swing piece on the entire defensive line. When healthy, Madubuike is Baltimore’s best interior pass rusher. The Ravens list him at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, and ESPN credited him with five solo tackles and two sacks in only two games during the 2025 season.

The issue is health. Madubuike suffered a neck injury in 2025 and was placed on injured reserve. NFL.com reported in April 2026 that he had undergone neck surgery, with doctors believing he could resume playing during the 2026 season. Baltimore’s own roster page also references reports that Madubuike was expected to play this season following the surgery.

That is massive. From 2023 through 2024, Madubuike was one of the NFL’s best interior disruptors. His 2023 season made him a star, and he followed it with another Pro Bowl-caliber year in 2024. His career totals include 203 tackles, 30 sacks and 42 tackles for loss through the 2025 season.

Madubuike changes the defense because he can win one-on-one. Baltimore’s system has always loved versatile linemen who can two-gap, slant and rush, but Madubuike gives the Ravens something extra: interior pressure without needing to blitz. That is the difference between a good defense and a championship-level defense.

The projection is simple. If Madubuike is fully cleared and close to his old form, the Ravens have one of the better starting defensive tackle pairs in the AFC. If he is limited, Baltimore will need Campbell, Jenkins, Washington and Peebles to cover a lot of snaps.

Calais Campbell — Veteran Rotational Lineman

Campbell’s return gives Baltimore experience, leadership and another huge body up front. The Ravens announced his return in May, with the deal reportedly expected to be around $5.5 million.

Campbell is not a classic defensive tackle, but in Baltimore’s front, labels do not matter much. The Ravens can use Campbell as a 5-technique, interior rusher, run-side anchor and situational pass-rush piece. ESPN listed Campbell’s 2025 stats at 23 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks, strong production for a player entering his 19th NFL season.

Campbell has also said 2026 will likely be his final NFL season. Baltimore’s site noted that Campbell had played 278 career games and needed five more to break the NFL record for most games by a defensive lineman.

The Ravens do not need Campbell to play 70% of the snaps. They need Campbell to win early downs, keep the rotation stable and give the room an adult presence. That is where this signing makes sense. Campbell can help protect Baltimore if Madubuike is eased back in, and he can also mentor the young linemen.

John Jenkins — Veteran Nose Tackle

Jenkins was added as a veteran replacement after Michael Pierce retired. The Baltimore Banner reported that Jenkins agreed to a one-year deal with the Ravens and noted that the 6-foot-3, 327-pound nose tackle started all 34 games for the Raiders over the previous two seasons. Jenkins had 46 tackles and three tackles for loss in his most recent season with Las Vegas.

Jenkins is not here to be flashy. Jenkins is here to be strong, available and dependable. Baltimore needed another true nose tackle because Pierce’s retirement left a role open. Jones is the starter, but the Ravens cannot ask Jones to take every heavy interior snap.

Jenkins fits as the backup nose tackle. He can play early downs, short-yardage snaps and goal-line packages. The Ravens also know injuries happen quickly on the defensive line. Madubuike and Washington both landed on injured reserve during the 2025 season, and that stretched the depth chart.

Jenkins gives Baltimore insurance. That matters more than the box score.

Broderick Washington Jr. — Veteran Backup / Rotational End

Washington has been with Baltimore since the Ravens drafted him in the fifth round in 2020. ESPN lists him at 6-foot-2, 315 pounds, and his 2025 season was limited, with ESPN crediting him with one solo tackle and no sacks.

The limited production needs context. Washington was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury in 2025, the same week Madubuike went on IR with the neck injury. His career résumé is more useful than his 2025 line. Washington has been a durable rotational lineman for most of his Ravens career, and his career totals include 110 tackles, six sacks, nine pass deflections, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Washington’s role is not built around splash plays. Washington is a heavy rotational defender who can play multiple alignments. He has enough size to hold up inside and enough experience to play disciplined football in Baltimore’s system.

The concern is where Washington fits if everyone is healthy. Jones, Madubuike, Campbell and Jenkins all have defined roles. Washington will have to prove he is healthy and still valuable enough to hold off younger players. His experience gives him the edge, but the roster battle is real.

Aeneas Peebles — Young Interior Pass-Rush Option

Peebles is one of the most interesting players in the room. Baltimore drafted him in the sixth round in 2025 out of Virginia Tech. The Ravens list him at 6-foot, 289 pounds, and ESPN credited him with two solo tackles during the 2025 season.

Peebles was not drafted to be a space-eating nose tackle. Peebles was drafted because he can move. His college background at Duke and Virginia Tech showed quickness, leverage and effort. He was a first-team All-ACC player in 2024 and had 8.5 sacks across his Duke career before transferring.

Peebles has a different body type than Jones, Jenkins and Okoye. He is shorter, lighter and quicker. That can be valuable on passing downs. Baltimore needs interior rush depth behind Madubuike, and Peebles might be the best young candidate for that role.

The question is whether Peebles can hold up against NFL power. At 289 pounds, Peebles has to win with leverage, hands and first-step quickness. If he gets moved in the run game, Baltimore may only trust him in certain packages. If Peebles proves he can survive early downs, his path to a larger role opens quickly.

C.J. Okoye — Massive Developmental Nose Tackle

Okoye is the wild card. ESPN lists him at 6-foot-6, 370 pounds, and he had seven solo tackles during the 2025 regular season.

Baltimore’s own story on Okoye showed how far he has come. Okoye made eight tackles in three games and Harbaugh praised his development, saying the difference from when he arrived to where he was in 2025 was “night and day.”

Okoye’s size is rare. A 370-pound defensive tackle can change short-yardage football by simply refusing to move. The challenge is technique. Okoye is still learning the position at an NFL level after coming through the International Player Pathway program.

Okoye’s roster case depends on whether Baltimore wants to keep another pure size player behind Jones and Jenkins. If the Ravens keep six or seven defensive linemen, Okoye has a chance. If the Ravens prioritize versatility and special teams value elsewhere, Okoye could be in a fight.

Still, Okoye is not just a camp body. Baltimore has invested time in him, and the flashes were real.

Rayshaun Benny — Rookie Developmental Lineman

Benny is the newest piece. Baltimore selected the Michigan defensive tackle in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft with pick No. 250.

The Ravens list Benny at 6-foot-3, 298 pounds, and their roster page describes him as a rookie defensive tackle out of Michigan. Yahoo Sports reported that Benny started all 13 games for Michigan in 2025 and posted 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups.

Benny fits the Ravens’ mold. Baltimore likes linemen from physical college programs, and Michigan’s defensive front asks players to be disciplined. Benny is not walking in as a star, but seventh-round defensive tackles can stick if they play the run, take coaching and show they can handle multiple techniques.

Benny’s best shot is proving he can be more than a practice squad stash. The Ravens already have veterans in front of him, so special teams, preseason production and practice consistency will matter. Benny likely starts as a developmental player, but his size and college experience give him a real chance to hang around.

Overall Outlook

The Ravens’ defensive tackle group has a high ceiling and a few real concerns.

The ceiling comes from Jones and Madubuike. Jones is coming off a breakout season and looks like one of the best run defenders in football. Madubuike, if healthy, gives Baltimore elite interior pass rush. Campbell adds leadership and situational juice. Jenkins adds nose tackle depth. Washington gives the group another veteran who knows the system.

The concern is health and age. Madubuike is returning from a serious neck injury. Campbell is 39 and has said 2026 is likely his final season. Jenkins is also an older veteran. Washington is coming off an injury-shortened year. That means the Ravens need at least one of Peebles, Okoye or Benny to become a trustworthy depth piece.

Projected grade: B+

If Madubuike is healthy, this room can play like an A-level unit. Without him at full strength, the Ravens still have size and experience, but the pass-rush ceiling drops. Jones is the safest player in the group right now, and Baltimore’s defensive tackle room will go as far as Jones’ breakout and Madubuike’s recovery take it.