Odafe Oweh’s late-season breakout didn’t just turn heads - it flipped the script on his entire NFL trajectory. Now, the Los Angeles Chargers are staring down one of the toughest decisions of their offseason: Do they commit big money to a player who just might be scratching the surface of his potential, or do they hesitate, knowing how much of that production came in a short, electrifying window?
Let’s start with the facts. When the Chargers traded for Oweh in October, they were taking a chance on a former first-rounder who hadn't yet lived up to the hype.
Through five games with the Ravens, Oweh had zero sacks and looked more like a cautionary tale than a comeback story. But once he landed in L.A., something clicked - fast.
In 12 games with the Chargers, Oweh posted 7.5 sacks and capped off the season with a monster playoff performance: three sacks and two forced fumbles against the Patriots. That wasn’t just a good game - it was a franchise playoff record. At 27 years old, Oweh suddenly looks like one of the league’s most intriguing edge rushers heading into free agency.
But here’s where it gets complicated. The projected franchise tag number for an edge rusher in 2026 is $27.8 million.
That’s a hefty price tag for general manager Joe Hortiz to swallow, especially when the sample size of elite production is still relatively small. Oweh’s breakout was real, but was it sustainable?
From the Chargers’ perspective, tagging Oweh might be the safest short-term move. With Khalil Mack likely on his way out and a new defensive coordinator, Chris O’Leary, taking over, there’s a lot of uncertainty on that side of the ball.
Locking in Oweh - even at a premium - gives them a known quantity at a premium position. And given how disruptive he was down the stretch, it’s not hard to imagine the front office feeling the pressure to keep that kind of pass-rushing juice in-house.
But let’s not ignore Oweh’s side of this. After being drafted in the first round by Baltimore back in 2021, he spent three seasons putting up modest numbers in Mike Macdonald’s system.
Things finally started to turn in 2024 under Zach Orr, when Oweh tallied 10 sacks in 10 starts - a clear sign that the right fit can unlock his game. Ironically, Orr was still running the Ravens’ defense in 2025 when Oweh got off to a slow start and was ultimately traded.
That’s the thing with Oweh: context matters. He’s a player with a unique skill set - explosive, bendy, and relentless off the edge - but he needs a scheme that plays to those strengths.
Jesse Minter, now the Ravens’ head coach, seemed to understand that. So did Anthony Weaver.
If Oweh hits the open market, don’t be surprised if Baltimore tries to bring him back into a system where he’s already proven he can thrive.
And if he stays in Los Angeles? The Chargers will need to show him a clear plan - not just a paycheck.
That means real conversations with O’Leary about how he’ll be deployed, what kind of role he’ll have, and how the defense is evolving post-Mack. Because for a player like Oweh, who’s shown he can dominate when the pieces around him are right, fit might matter even more than money.
That’s what makes this such a fascinating situation. If the Chargers were running it back with the same defensive staff, maybe Oweh feels more comfortable signing long-term. But with change in the air and a franchise tag looming, this could come down to a one-year prove-it deal - at a steep price.
According to Spotrac, that tag would cost the Chargers $27.5 million - nearly the same amount they paid for both Oweh and Mack combined last season. That’s a big bet on a player who’s only recently started to live up to his billing. But given the alternatives - letting him walk, or hoping he signs a team-friendly deal - it might be the only move that keeps the Chargers from taking a major step back defensively.
There’s no easy answer here. Oweh’s breakout was real, but the path forward is anything but clear. What’s certain is this: the Chargers have a potential star on their hands - and a decision that could shape the future of their defense for years to come.