Linebacker Odafe Oweh Traded To the Los Angeles Chargers

Remember when Odafe Oweh was the talk of the town? A first-round pick out of Penn State in 2021, this guy was a physical freak. Last season, he finally seemed to put it all together, racking up a career-high 10 sacks and looking like the pocket-wrecker the Ravens envisioned. Fast forward to this season, and… crickets. Through five games, Oweh has yet to record a sack and has seen his playing time dwindle. He didn’t even start in the team’s embarrassing loss to Houston. It is like having a Ferrari and only driving it to the grocery store.

For the Chargers, this is a low-risk, high-reward gamble. Their General Manager, Joe Hortiz, was the guy who helped bring Oweh to Baltimore in the first place. He’s been gushing about Oweh’s “power-bend-hands” combo since his draft days. Now, he gets to take his old pet project for a spin in sunny California. It’s a classic “I can fix him” scenario. If Hortiz can reignite that fire, the Chargers’ pass rush just got a whole lot scarier. For Oweh, it’s a fresh start and a contract year—talk about motivation.

Gilman Plugs a Leaky Ship In Baltimore

So, what do the Ravens get out of this? They get a plug-and-play veteran safety in Alohi Gilman, and boy, do they need him. The Ravens’ secondary has been getting torched lately. Just last week, they were forced to start an undrafted rookie after star safety Kyle Hamilton went down with a groin injury. It did not go well.

Gilman isn’t just a warm body; he’s been a workhorse for the Chargers, playing 87% of their defensive snaps this season. The 28-year-old is a reliable tackler and has a knack for making big plays, with five interceptions in his career. He is the kind of steady, veteran presence that can calm a shaky defensive backfield. This move, combined with the recent signing of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, shows the Ravens are in full-blown “fix the secondary NOW” mode. They’re patching holes with experienced pros, and Gilman is a significant upgrade.

This trade feels like one of those rare moments in the NFL where everyone might actually walk away a winner. The Ravens get immediate help where they’re bleeding, save about $8 million, and add a draft pick. The Chargers get a high-upside pass rusher who their GM is already in love with. And Oweh gets a chance to prove his 10-sack season wasn’t a fluke before hitting free agency.