The Washington Commanders needed an edge rusher — that was no secret.
Who they went out and got and how much they paid is going to end up being a talking point for quite some time after they agreed to a 4-year, $100 million free agent contract with Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher and former 1st round pick Odafe Oweh.
“Former Chargers DE Odafe Oweh reached agreement today on a four-year, $100 million deal including $68 million guaranteed with the Washington Commanders,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Monday.
It’s a mind-numbing turn of events for the Commanders, and the 2nd consecutive year they’ve paid way over the market value for a player on the defensive front after coughing up a 3-year, $45 million free agent contract for defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw in 2025 and watching him produce little to nothing in 2025.
“Oweh hasn’t even really been a full-time starter,” ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. “This is betting big on his upside or on what you think he might do in the future.”
Oweh was a 1st round pick (No. 31 overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2021 NFL draft and traded to the Chargers in exchange for a 5th round pick and safety Alohi Gilman just 5 games into the 2025 season.
“The Washington Commanders just handed Odafe Oweh $100 MILLION with $68M guaranteed and we’re supposed to act like that’s normal??” NFL influencer Olakunle Beloved wrote on their official X account. “One massive contract and suddenly everyone’s acting like this fixes everything. NFL front offices throw around insane money and fans are expected to just clap for it. Commanders fans… is this actually a great move or another overpay waiting to age badly?”
Odafe Oweh Massive Bust With Ravens
Even after being traded to the Los Angeles Chargers on October 7, Oweh was called out by Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon as the “Biggest Letdown” for the Ravens in 2025.
“Oweh broke out with 10 sacks in 2024, but he didn’t register a single quarterback takedown in five games before the team essentially gave up and traded him to the Chargers,” Gagnon wrote on October 24.
Sending Oweh to the Chargers came as somewhat of a shock. NFL teams are loathe to give up on edge rushers and the deal gave the Ravens little advantage on paper.
Oweh bounced back with 7.5 sacks in 2025 but, like Orlovsky said, wasn’t even a full-time starter — something he’s only been once in his first 5 seasons, when he started 10 games for the Ravens in 2024.
Ravens Wasted First Round Pick on Oweh
Oweh, 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, was one of 2 edge rushers taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Penn State alongside 3-time NFL All-Pro Micah Parsons, who went at No. 12 overall to the Dallas Cowboys.
In retrospect, the 2021 draft is one of the wildest in recent memory.
Of the Top 4 picks, all have turned out to be busts until 2025, when No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence (sort of) redeemed himself, but there would be a crazy debate about who would be the new No. 1 overall pick in a re-draft.
You can make arguments that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (No. 5 overall), Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (No. 7 overall), Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (No. 9 overall) and Parsons all could have been the top pick.
Commanders Strike $100 Million Blockbuster Deal for Former 1st Round Pick