Ravens Struggling and Making Moves
The Baltimore Ravens are on track for a tough start, likely ending up 1-4, and their defense is playing a significant role in this struggle. They’re allowing an astonishing 35.4 points per game, which is the highest in the league. In fact, they’ve let in a minimum of 37 points in each of their losses so far.
In light of this, the Ravens are trading pass rusher Odafe Oweh, a first-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, to the Los Angeles Chargers. According to various sources, Baltimore will be receiving safety Alohi Gilman and a fifth-round pick in 2026. In return, the Chargers get Oweh along with a seventh-round pick from the Los Angeles Rams in the 2027 Draft.
This seventh-round pick was part of a previous trade last November, which also involved cornerback Tre’Davious White heading to the Ravens.
This season, Oweh has recorded 10 total tackles but hasn’t made a single sack. The Ravens’ overall pass rush has struggled, with only six sacks to their name, which puts them just ahead of the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears. They’re also sitting in the bottom half of the league regarding pressures, with 33 to their records.
The move could potentially help address the Raven’s vulnerable secondary, which has been facing challenges. Ar’darius Washington is dealing with a torn Achilles from last spring’s offseason workouts, and Kyle Hamilton was sidelined last week due to an injury against the Texans.
This season, Baltimore has allowed 7.8 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, ranking fourth-worst in the NFL. While part of this fault can be attributed to the secondary, it’s clear that the underperforming pass rush and rising injuries are complicating matters further.
Interestingly, the Ravens didn’t stop there; they also signed veteran safety CJ Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad just a few days after his release by the Texans.
So, does this trade signal that the struggling Ravens—currently at the bottom of the AFC North—are leaning towards being sellers? Or is this simply a strategic move to cope with injuries in their already compromised secondary ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline?
On the other side of things, the Chargers are coming into Week 6 with a solid 3-2 record, leading the AFC West. This trade strengthens their pass rush, which has already produced 14 sacks this season—tied for fourth in the league with 41 pressures. Adding Oweh could be just what they need while Khalil Mack is recovering from multiple injuries he sustained during the Week 2 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s currently on injured reserve but might return after missing four games, depending on how his recovery goes.
