Pundits React to Ravens Trading Odafe Oweh to Chargers for Safety Alohi Gilman
With the Ravens sitting at 1-4 and fielding an injury-depleted defense that is last in the league in points allowed, it was inevitable that moves would be made. Two occurred Tuesday.
The Ravens traded outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Baltimore also signed playmaking safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the practice squad.
The additions bolstered the secondary for the Ravens, who have the 31st-ranked pass defense.
Gilman, 28, has started 39 games in his six seasons with the Chargers, including all five games this season.
The 27-year-old Gardner-Johnson, who had six interceptions last season with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and 18 interceptions over seven seasons, could be elevated to the gameday roster for Sunday's home game against the Los Angeles Rams, especially if All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) misses his second straight game.
Trading Oweh is somewhat surprising at first glance, considering the Ravens have had trouble rushing the passer this season (six sacks). However, after recording a career-high 10 sacks last season, the 2021 first-round pick has none this season and lost snaps to fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson. Oweh is set to hit free agency next year.
Here's a look at what pundits are saying about the trade:
ESPN’s Seth Walder: "Grade: B. Ultimately, this is a rare player-for-player swap between two teams hoping to contend in 2025 (yes, the Ravens are still in that bucket) and opting to lightly subtract from one area of perhaps light surplus to fill a greater need. The Chargers added a player at a more impactful position but had to pay in both draft capital and cap space to do so. Baltimore is rolling the dice, losing Oweh to add some wrinkles to the back end of its defense while gaining some draft and cap flexibility while at it. I can see how this works from both sides."
USA Today’s Tyler Dragon: "Grade: C+. Gilman has played in 87% of the Chargers' defensive snaps this season, and he's played in over 90% of the team's defensive snaps the previous two seasons. He's a solid veteran safety option, especially for a Baltimore team with a banged-up secondary. … Gilman will likely serve as a depth option once Baltimore's secondary gets healthy. He's in the final year of his contract, so he has extra incentive to perform well in Charm City."
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano: "Grade: C-. I am intrigued about what this means for the Ravens' postseason hopes. Maybe this was a safe way to think about the future in case this team can't stay afloat amid this injury wave, which includes Lamar Jackson sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Ravens now have the Chargers' fifth-round pick to add depth for next year's roster. … This might be more about starting Gilman and Malaki Starks at safety together and allowing Hamilton to roam as a positionless player. Baltimore has been reluctant to have Hamilton play the center field role, but he's been needed in coverage more in the past two seasons. Again, it's tough to gauge what the Ravens are thinking with this trade. They added flexibility in the secondary, but it came at the cost of depth with the pass rush."
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec: "The Ravens exercised Oweh's option in 2025, worth just over $13 million. He is a pending free agent, and the Ravens gained no traction in extension talks with him this past offseason. It seemed highly unlikely that he would be back, so moving on from him now allows Baltimore to get something for him and creates nearly $8 million of salary cap space for the cash-strapped Ravens. Still, it leaves a Ravens team that has struggled to get to the quarterback — Baltimore is tied for second-to-last in the league with just six sacks — without one of its most accomplished edge rushers. The Ravens' current edge rush group includes Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green and David Ojabo, who have combined for just three sacks this season."
The Baltimore Sun’s Tim Schwartz: "The Ravens' six sacks are among the fewest in the league, and yet they still decided to trade their most productive edge rusher this season. That should say a lot about how the coaching staff feels about Oweh, a former first-round draft pick. He was set to become a free agent after the season and was overpaid for his current production, so turning that into a serviceable piece to help in the defensive backfield, another area in which Baltimore has struggled this year, seems like a good move."
Baltimore Beatdown’s Nikhil Mehta: "This does not seem like a seller's move. Keeping Oweh in the hopes he could re-raise his compensatory pick value or trading him for pure draft capital would be selling; adding a veteran safety on an expiring contract is not. If anything, this is a major bet on Mike Green and Tavius Robinson to replace Oweh's snaps and have a bigger impact. It could also signal that Adisa Isaac is nearing a return."
A to Z Sports’ Kyle Crabbs: "Gilman is playing in the second year of a two-year, $10.125 million extension with the Chargers and has been an unquestioned starter for Los Angeles thus far this season. He's not dynamic but he's smart and a good tackler. He should bring Ravens fans memories of Geno Stone."
Will Ravens Pursue Another Pass Rusher?
The Ravens parting ways with Oweh and gaining some cap space in doing so has sparked speculation that General Manager Eric DeCosta could be preparing to make another addition, specifically a pass rusher.
Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones: "Tuesday's move begs the question whether DeCosta will now aim to acquire an impact edge rusher before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Of course, the Ravens must begin winning games quickly to avoid the opposite question of whether they should trade other assets with expiring contracts."
The Baltimore Sun’s Sam Cohn: "Have to think this is an initial move in a larger plan for DeCosta. Oweh was Baltimore's second most productive edge rusher last year. He's largely been a disappointment through five weeks, still chasing his first sack (though he leads the team in pressures). … And something had to be done about this defense. They couldn't go another week without addressing personnel. DeCosta got a solid return in safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick. But surely there's more to be done here, having freed up about $8 million in cap space. Baltimore has a league-worst defense. As John Harbaugh said on Monday, 'everything's on the table.'"
Russell Street Report’s Kevin McNelis: "The optimistic view of this move is that the cap space could mean the front office is trying to make a big swing to acquire a premier player and try to salvage this season."
Gardner-Johnson Brings Swagger to Ravens Defense
Gardner-Johnson, who is known for having a big personality, was acquired by the Houston Texans in a trade with the Eagles this past offseason but was surprisingly released after starting the first three games this year.
Former NFL head coach Bruce Arians and former NFL linebacker A.J. Hawk said on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show” that Gardner-Johnson's fiery demeanor could be what the Ravens defense needs.
"Bring a little swagger in there, bring a little s**t-talking. Let's get back to Ravens football," Arians said.
Hawk said: "CJDJ is not going to go in there and just be a wallflower and hang out. He's going to go out there and let his presence be known."
Ravens Wire’s Glenn Erby said Gardner-Johnson brings "energy and attitude," along with playmaking ability.
"The defensive back isn't everyone's cup of tea, but he's got energy, swagger, and a presence in the locker room," Erby wrote. "Gardner-Johnson would add a much-needed playmaker to a Ravens defense that has just two takeaways in the first five games. Only one team has fewer."
Rams to Practice at Camden Yards for a Week After Facing Ravens
The Rams will be sticking around Baltimore for a week after Sunday's game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Instead of returning to Los Angeles before traveling to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 19, the Rams reached an agreement with the Orioles to use Camden Yards as their practice site Oct. 11-17, according to The Baltimore Sun.
M&T Bank Stadium was not an option because of concerns about maintaining the field's grass surface, Maryland Stadium Authority executive director Michael J. Frenz said.
"They would not have been able to get it in condition for the next Ravens home game, so they went to the Orioles," Frenz said. "I think it's an example of the cooperation of the two teams. I think it's really cool. They're going to be using the playing field, banquet areas, Orioles clubhouse and the visiting clubhouse."
The practices will be closed to the public.
