The Los Angeles Chargers, a team widely recognized as a serious contender in the AFC, have executed a trade that is increasingly being celebrated as one of the smartest personnel moves of the year. This transaction, involving the acquisition of veteran defensive pass rusher Odafe Oweh from the Baltimore Ravens, was initially viewed as a strategic roster upgrade but has since proven to be a game-changing addition. It has provided a substantial and immediate boost to the team’s ability to generate pressure and disrupt opposing passing games.
The environment surrounding the trade deadline is essential for appreciating the true value of this move. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, the market for proven, high-quality pass rushers has extremely tight. Teams have been generally unwilling to part with their established edge defenders, demanding prohibitive prices, often in the form of multiple high draft picks, for any star talent. Against this backdrop of scarcity, the Chargers’ ability to secure a player of Oweh’s caliber, a former first-round pick who was recently a double-digit sack artist, for such a minimal investment is clearly a steal.
The actual cost of the acquisition was remarkably low. The Chargers received Odafe Oweh and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick. In return, the Baltimore Ravens received safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Gilman was a solid but unspectacular player who was not receiving a high volume of defensive snaps, and the Chargers had adequate depth to compensate for his departure. The draft capital exchanged amounted to a negligible future swap, essentially making the deal a pure player-for-player exchange where the Chargers clearly gained the superior talent for their specific need. Oweh’s availability stemmed from his situation in Baltimore, where he had seen his production, a career-high ten sacks the previous season,drop to zero sacks through his first five games this season, accompanied by a reduction in playing time to a career-low of 45% of the defensive snaps (per ESPN.com). The Ravens were looking for a shakeup, and the Chargers wisely seized the low-risk opportunity to acquire a high-upside player at a discount.
After Oweh had a few weeks to acclimate to the Los Angeles system and scheme, his effect became evident, transforming the entire defensive performance. This impact is best quantified through two key metrics:
First, by examining the three-week rolling average of the Los Angeles Chargers’ Expected Points Added (EPA) per dropback allowed defensively, a substantial positive spike is visible. After the team’s pass defense went through a mid-season slump and a period of decline, the EPA metric surged upward, reaching one of the season’s best marks by Week 8. This time frame fully incorporated Oweh’s contributions, demonstrating a direct correlation between his arrival and a significant aggregate improvement in the team’s ability to defend against the pass.
Second, Oweh’s effect is further corroborated by analyzing the team’s Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass rushing grade. The Chargers’ three-week rolling average for this metric, which had been dipping, suddenly experienced a massive upward acceleration. This spike confirmed that the entire pass-rushing unit, not just Oweh’s personal production, had been enhanced. This is the definition of a force multiplier; Oweh is not merely generating his own pressures, but is making players like Tuli Tuipulotu and other defensive linemen more effective by demanding attention and shifting blocking schemes.
This consistent and elite pressure generation has a crucial compounding effect on the rest of the defense. It grants defensive coordinator Mike Minter the flexibility to reduce the reliance on risky all-out blitzes and complex packages. Looking ahead, this fortified defense, combined with the proven elite offensive talent led by quarterback Justin Herbert, positions the Chargers perfectly for a sustained playoff push. The upward trend in defensive metrics confirms the Chargers were correct to pull the trigger.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
