ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 08:42 PM Posted yesterday at 08:42 PM On Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said there were “a lot of decisions to make” following Baltimore’s 1-4 start. Just over 24 hours later, the shakeup began. The Ravens are trading outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and a future seventh-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick, a source with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Oweh, 26 and the 31st overall pick in 2021, had a career-high 10 sacks for Baltimore last season but has struggled through the first five games of this season. He has zero sacks and 10 tackles, ranks 33rd in pressure rate (11%), according to TruMedia, and has his seen his playing time cut to a career-low 45% of defensive snaps. He is also in the final year of his contract, worth $13.25 million, and scheduled to be a free agent after this season. With the trade, the Ravens save roughly $8 million in their salary cap, helping clear the way for general manager Eric DeCosta to almost certainly make more roster moves. With Oweh gone, the Ravens are left with only Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, rookie second-round pick Mike Green and David Ojabo as their top outside linebackers. Robinson has two sacks and Van Noy, who had a career-high 12 1/2 last season, just one. Harbaugh said on Monday that the Ravens’ pass rush “has to be better.” Their six sacks are the second-fewest in the league after having the second most last season. They also rank 16th in pass rush win rate (41%), according to ESPN analytics. “We have to find a way to manufacture more pass rush on all three downs,” Harbaugh said. Gilman, meanwhile, was the second safety to be added on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Ravens signed veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad, who was released last month by the Houston Texans. Their additions should help an injury-ravaged and struggling secondary that lacks depth and ranks second-to-last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (262.4) and 24th in completion percentage (69). In Sunday’s 44-10 loss to the Texans, the Ravens were without Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton, who was sidelined with a groin injury, and started undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III in his place. Gilman, 28, was a key contributor to the Chargers’ top-ranked defense last season and primarily played as a free safety along with Elijah Molden, which allowed Derwin James Jr. to play close to the line of scrimmage. Baltimore will now perhaps be able to do the same with Hamilton, who was an All-Pro in 2023 playing similarly. The Chargers and general manager Joe Hortiz, who is the Ravens’ former director of player personnel, meanwhile, hope that Oweh will be rejuvenated playing under Harbaugh’s younger brother Jim. In four-plus seasons with Baltimore, Oweh appeared in 67 games (25 starts) and tallied 23 sacks, 66 quarterback hits, 148 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also helps fill the void for Khalil Mack, who was placed on injured reserve after dislocating his elbow in a Week 2 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. There already is at least some familiarity with Gilman and the Ravens as well. He was a team captain during Hamilton’s freshman season at Notre Dame before being selected by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. He also played one year at Navy before transferring to Notre Dame. In five-plus seasons with Los Angeles, Gilman appeared in 73 games (39 starts) and had 252 tackles, five interceptions and 21 pass breakups. He is under contract through the 2026 season after signing a two-year contract with Los Angeles in March 2024. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh gazes through his darkened visor earlier this month. The Ravens traded the pass rusher to the Chargers on Tuesday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article Quote
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