How Can the Chargers New Addition Impact Their Week Six Results?

NFL

The Los Angeles Chargers made a strategic midseason move by acquiring edge rusher Odafe Oweh from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick. The deal also included a 2027 seventh-rounder heading to Los Angeles, balancing the trade on paper. For the Chargers, the timing couldn’t be more critical—Khalil Mack remains sidelined with a dislocated elbow, and the team’s pass rush has thinned considerably. Oweh, a former first-round pick, reunites with Chargers GM Joe Hortiz, who helped draft him in Baltimore, and enters a defensive scheme under Jesse Minter that prioritizes speed and disruption off the edge.

Oweh’s 2025 season in Baltimore was underwhelming, especially compared to his breakout 2024 campaign where he recorded ten sacks. Through five games this year, he failed to register a single sack, raising concerns about his ability to finish plays. While his pressure rate remained solid, he struggled to convert those pressures into meaningful impact, often failing to close on quarterbacks or disrupt timing. With the Ravens’ defense slipping to the bottom of the league rankings and facing injuries across the board, Oweh’s inconsistency made him expendable, particularly in a contract year where his long-term fit was already in question.

Despite those struggles, Oweh’s potential remains intriguing for the Chargers. His 11% pressure rate ranks second among their edge rushers, behind only Tuli Tuipulotu, suggesting he can still collapse pockets and force hurried throws. In Jesse Minter’s aggressive, rotational scheme, Oweh may benefit from more favorable matchups and a simplified role that plays to his athletic strengths. With Mack out and backups like Bud Dupree and Caleb Murphy offering limited production, Oweh could immediately step into a high-snap role and help stabilize the edge.

Heading into Week Six against the Miami Dolphins, Oweh’s impact could be pivotal. The Dolphins rely heavily on timing and rhythm in their passing game, and even subtle disruptions can throw off Tua Tagovailoa’s quick-release mechanics. If Oweh can generate consistent pressure and force early throws, he may help tilt the game in the Chargers’ favor. While it’s too early to declare the trade a win, Los Angeles made a smart bet on upside—and Week Six will offer the first glimpse of whether that gamble pays off.

Olivia Leonard

I am a current Sport Management student at Towson University, double-minoring in Business and Marketing. The passion of being a devoted sports fan fuels sports writing with the authenticity and emotional depth that I’m willing to bring to the table.

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