When the Commanders sign Oweh, they add one of the most explosive pass rushers available on the market and make one of the most significant defensive investments of the Adam Peters era in Washington.
Oweh enters his sixth NFL season with 30.5 career sacks and experience with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers. At 27 years old, the former first-round pick is still firmly in his prime and gives Washington another athlete capable of disrupting opposing quarterbacks.
The Ravens selected Oweh 31st overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State, where his rare athletic testing made him one of the most intriguing defensive prospects in that class.
Baltimore quickly saw flashes of that potential. As a rookie, Oweh appeared in 15 games and recorded five sacks, five tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, while also recovering two fumbles.
He continued to grow into a larger role with the Ravens defense before injuries limited his production in 2023. His breakout came the following season.
In 2024, Oweh delivered the most productive campaign of his career, finishing with 10 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 39 total tackles across 17 games. The performance confirmed the upside Baltimore believed it saw when it drafted him in the first round.
Oweh’s Path From Baltimore to Los Angeles
Oweh began last season with the Ravens before being traded early in the year to the Chargers. The change of scenery proved beneficial.
Across 12 regular-season games in Los Angeles, Oweh recorded 28 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, quickly becoming a key contributor to the Chargers’ defensive front.
His most impressive performance came in the playoffs. In the AFC Wild Card round against the New England Patriots, Oweh finished with four tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks and three quarterback hits, showcasing the type of disruptive impact Washington hopes to see regularly.
What the Signing Means for Washington
When the Commanders sign Odafe Oweh, they address one of the most important priorities of their offseason: improving the pass rush.
Washington has focused on strengthening its defensive front as it continues reshaping the roster under Peters. Adding a proven edge defender entering his prime gives the defense another player capable of consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
With Oweh now in the fold, the Commanders have added a dynamic pass rusher and one of the most significant pieces of their 2026 offseason.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Commanders Insider for SportsJourney.com. As a graduate of George Mason University, Forrest has spent the last eight years sharing his love for sports with listeners and viewers in the DC area and around the world. He hosts the “After Further Review Podcast” and has held numerous on-air and writing roles covering the DC area sports, Division 1 Basketball, and the NFL. His work has been featured on outlets like NBC Sports Washington, Fansided.com, Heavy.com and The Fourth Estate.
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