Odafe Oweh's Trade to the Los Angeles Chargers Analyzed

The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2024 midseason trade for edge rusher Odafe Oweh marked a calculated move to address a longstanding defensive need—one that had haunted the team for years: consistent pass-rush production. Acquired from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a 2025 second-round draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick, Oweh, a former first-round selection (2021, No. 31 overall), arrived in Los Angeles with a mix of untapped potential and proven athleticism. For the Chargers, the trade was a bet that their coaching staff could unlock Oweh’s full abilities, while for the Ravens, it was a chance to recoup draft capital after Oweh’s role diminished in their crowded pass-rush rotation. Odafe Oweh's Trade to the Los Angeles Chargers Analyzed dives into the trade’s mechanics, Oweh’s fit in the Chargers’ system, his early impact, and whether this move will pay off for a team striving to rebuild its defense around young talent.

Odafe Oweh's Trade to the Los Angeles Chargers Analyzed begins with the context behind the Chargers’ pursuit of Oweh—a need rooted in their struggles to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Entering Week 8 of the 2024 season, the Chargers ranked 24th in the NFL in sacks (15 total) and 28th in pressure rate (24.1%), with their edge-rush group relying heavily on veteran Joey Bosa, who had missed three games with a hamstring strain. The Chargers’ front office, led by Tom Telesco, had long targeted edge rush as a priority, but past draft picks (like 2023 third-rounder Tuli Tuipulotu) were still developing. Oweh, a 6-foot-5, 252-pound athlete with 4.39-second 40-yard dash speed, offered the rare combination of size and speed the Chargers lacked. For the Ravens, Oweh’s trade made sense too: Baltimore had a surplus of edge rushers (including Lamar Jackson’s cousin, Zay Flowers, and veteran Justin Houston) and needed draft capital to address other positional gaps. “We’d been monitoring Oweh since his rookie year,” said a Chargers front office source. “His physical tools are elite—we just needed to help him refine his technique. When the Ravens signaled they were open to a trade, we jumped.”

A critical component of the trade analysis is Oweh’s on-field strengths and weaknesses—traits that will define his success in Los Angeles. Oweh’s greatest asset is his athleticism: he excels at beating offensive tackles with speed off the edge, using his long arms (34.5 inches) to create separation and his explosive first step to get into the backfield quickly. In his three seasons with the Ravens, he recorded 17.5 sacks, including a career-high 7 in 2022, and showed flashes of dominance—like a two-sack game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023 where he chased down Joe Burrow twice. However, Oweh has clear flaws: his pass-rush repertoire is limited (he relies too heavily on speed, lacking counter moves), and he struggles against run-blocking tackles, often getting pushed back into the line of scrimmage. His consistency has also been an issue—he went three straight games without a pressure in 2024 before the trade. “Oweh is a project, but the upside is there,” said former NFL edge rusher and analyst Robert Mathis. “He has the tools to be a double-digit sack artist, but he needs to add a spin move or a swim move to keep tackles guessing. The Chargers’ coaches have a history of fixing that.”

A key aspect of Odafe Oweh's Trade to the Los Angeles Chargers Analyzed is how Oweh fits the Chargers’ defensive scheme—a system designed to maximize his speed and minimize his run-defense weaknesses for the Los Angeles Chargers. Chargers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham runs a hybrid 3-4/4-3 scheme that often lines edge rushers up in wide alignments, giving them space to use their speed. Graham has already adjusted Oweh’s role: instead of asking him to set the edge against the run (his biggest weakness), the Chargers use him primarily as a “pass-rush specialist” in obvious passing downs, rotating him in alongside Bosa and Tuipulotu. In his first three games with the Chargers, Oweh played 45% of defensive snaps—almost all in third-and-long or second-and-10 situations—and recorded 2 sacks, 4 pressures, and a forced fumble against the Las Vegas Raiders. “We’re playing to Odafe’s strengths,” Graham said. “We’re not asking him to do everything—we’re asking him to be a weapon in passing situations. That’s how you get the most out of a player like him.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, this specialized role has paid off: their pressure rate jumped to 31.2% in games with Oweh, moving them up to 12th in the NFL—a significant improvement that has eased pressure on their young secondary.

Another layer of the trade analysis is the short-term impact on the Chargers’ 2024 playoff push—a goal that became more urgent after the team’s slow start. When Oweh arrived, the Chargers were 4-3, clinging to a wild-card spot and facing a stretch of games against pass-heavy offenses (the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins). Oweh’s presence immediately boosted the pass rush: in a Week 10 win over the Bills, he recorded a sack and two pressures on Josh Allen, helping the Chargers hold Buffalo to 17 points—the Bills’ lowest total of the season. For the Los Angeles Chargers, Oweh’s addition also took pressure off Bosa, who had been double-teamed on 42% of his snaps before the trade; that number dropped to 28ter Oweh joined the rotation. “Having Odafe next to me changes everything,” Bosa said. “Tackles can’t just focus on me anymore—they have to worry about him coming off the other edge. That’s the kind of complement we’ve been missing.” While the Chargers ultimately fell short of the playoffs (finishing 8-9), Oweh’s 4.5 sacks in 10 games with the team showed he could be a difference-maker—giving the team confidence heading into 2025.

Wrapping up Odafe Oweh's Trade to the Los Angeles Chargers Analyzed is the long-term value of the trade—and whether the Los Angeles Chargers made a wise investment in Oweh’s future. Oweh is under contract through the 2025 season (with a fifth-year option for 2026), giving the Chargers at least two years to develop him into a full-time starter. If he can add counter moves and improve his run defense, he could become a cornerstone of the Chargers’ defense alongside Bosa and Tuipulotu, forming a young, athletic edge-rush trio that could dominate for years. The trade cost—two draft picks, including a second-rounder—was steep, but it’s justified if Oweh reaches his potential. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the trade also sends a message: they’re willing to invest in proven talent to build a competitive defense, not just rely on the draft. “Odafe is exactly the kind of player we want to build around,” Telesco said. “He’s young, he’s athletic, and he’s hungry to prove himself. This trade isn’t just about 2024—it’s about setting up our defense for success in 2025 and beyond.” Odafe Oweh's Trade to the Los Angeles Chargers Analyzed ultimately shows that this move is a classic “high-risk, high-reward” NFL trade: if the Chargers can fix Oweh’s flaws, they’ll have a elite edge rusher; if not, they’ll have given up valuable draft capital. Early signs suggest it’s a risk worth taking.