Odafe

Oweh

The Commanders’ D/ST unit finished 29th in total scoring last year, while tying for the third-most yards allowed per play at 6.0. This year, the coaches hope to wield “waves of players that [can] apply pressure” and schematic disguises to cause hesitation in quarterbacks and create takeaways. The front office revamped the defense’s front-seven, highlighted by EDGE Odafe Oweh’s four-year, $100 million contract, and added slot DB Amik Robertson in free agency. The rest of the secondary contains question marks. If Quinn can effectively implement new DC Daronte Jones’ blitzing concepts, derived from his time studying under Vikings DC Brian Flores, the unit should improve its play. Unfortunately, they play in a division loaded with high-end offenses. If the secondary cannot uphold its end of the bargain, the pass defense could remain a unit to target for fantasy purposes.

$68 million of this is guaranteed per Adam Schefter. Oweh did indeed hit the $25 million mark that Daniel Popper believed could lead to the Chargers letting him walk. The 27-year-old EDGE had 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers last year and will now try to revitalize Washington’s lagging pass rush. He’s been more of a complementary rusher so far — this is a contract that says the Commanders want him to be the main man.

The Cowboys lost out on the Maxx Crosby trade sweepstakes and will have to pivot — they reportedly had some interest in Hendrickson at the deadline. Oweh probably makes more sense as a younger upside swing, and this is the third of four NFC East teams in on Jaelan Phillips that we’ve heard about.

Oweh came over in a midseason trade and immediately heated up for the Chargers, finishing with 7.5 sacks in just 12 games with the Bolts. Entering his age-28 season, the Chargers apparently don’t think him worthy of the franchise tag. This report seems to say that if Oweh hits free agency, there’s a real chance he’ll wind up elsewhere. If so, Popper posits, the team could use their first-round pick on a replacement for Oweh on the edge.

The Ravens have kicked their feet on extending Oweh — this is his fifth-year option season — and ultimately weren’t going to be able to pay everybody. The Chargers needed help at EDGE following Khalil Mack’s injury and Oweh is a decent in-season add without much of a price. Still just 26, Oweh raises the floor of Los Angeles’ defense. The rest of the cost is Gilman, a decent starter over the course of his career who can give the Ravens somebody to let Kyle Hamilton freelance when Hamilton is healthy again. It’s an interesting challenge trade for both sides. Gilman is also in the final year of his contract.

Oweh popped up on the report with a limited session on Thursday and did not practice at all on Friday. For some teams this would qualify as ominous, but for Baltimore in 2025 it’s just another day at the factory.

The Ravens’ injury woes continue. Oweh apparently suffered the eye injury in practice today, jeopardizing his Week 5 availability. Oweh leads Ravens defenders with 11 quarterback pressures but has yet to actually record a sack. Texans QB C.J. Stroud should have fairly comfortable pockets to throw from this weekend.

Oweh, a former first round pick, is now locked up until the end of the 2025 season. Pro Football Focus graded Oweh as the league’s 30th best EDGE in 2023, as he had nine QB hits and 40 QB hurries in an injury-shortened campaign. He has at least five sacks in each of his three seasons with Baltimore. PFF graded the Ravens as the seventh best pass-rushing defense in 2023.

Oweh has been dealing with an ankle injury for a few weeks, returning in Week 7 against the Lions. A knee injury has also been added to the report for Oweh. The third-year linebacker will try to return to practice later this week in order to play in Week 9 against the Seahawks.

Oweh returned from a four-game absence because of the ankle issue last week. He played a limited role but tallied one sack and forced a fumble. He was added to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday before being downgraded to a DNP on Friday. His status for Week 8 is shaky at best. Roquan Smith, who missed Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder issue, is good to go.