OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens will need outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to elevate the pass rush this season.
The team needs to replace the production of Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9 1/2sacks last year but signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in March.
Oweh, now in his fourth year with the Ravens, had a career-high five sacks in 2023 and 2021. He had three sacks in 2022.
“[Oweh] has a great motor,” Ravens general Eric DeCosta said this offseason. “[He] plays with a passion. He’s an exciting young prospect. He has battled back from some injuries, and we think that this is going to be a great season for him. We’re very, very excited about what he brings to the table this year as one of our primary edge-rush guys.”
The Ravens have confidence that Oweh can improve his production. The team picked up his fifth-year option in April, which will pay him $13.3 for the 2025 season.
This past season, Oweh appeared in 13 games after dealing with an ankle injury in Week 2 and finished with 23 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and the five sacks. The option is a good sign for Oweh’s future in Baltimore.
Oweh, who was selected by the Ravens 31st overall in the 2021 NFL draft, led the team with a pass rush win rate of 18.2 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.
“We were really happy with [Oweh’s] game this year,” DeCosta said. “I think sometimes people get really caught up in the number of sacks that people get. We prefer to look at pressures and disruptions and their ability to affect the game. Odafe’s probably one of the hardest-working players we have on our defense.”
The Ravens also hope that third-year player David Ojabo will give them a lift. Ojabo should be ready for training camp after having surgery in November to repair a partially torn ACL, which ended his season after three games.
The Ravens’ other outside linebackers include Kyle Van Noy (nine sacks in 2o23), Tavius Robinson (one sack) and Malik Hamm (injured reserve).
In addition, the Ravens also added Adisa Isaac in the third round of this year’s NFL draft from Penn State. Last season, Isaac started all 13 games for the Nittany Lions and finished with 37 tackles (23 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 7 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
