The Ravens’ big bet on Odafe Oweh is unusual. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad bet.
Jonas Shaffer, The Baltimore Banner
The Ravens’ bet on Oweh, though, has always been based on his potential. On Tuesday, general manager Eric DeCosta doubled down, exercising Oweh’s $13.3 million option. There is obvious risk in the move, but also, maybe, great reward. In an exploding market for pass rushers, Oweh’s fully guaranteed deal could become a bargain by next year.
Oweh, 25, arrived in Baltimore four years ago defined as much by what he could do as what he hadn’t done. He could run the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at 6 foot 5, 257 pounds. He could broad-jump over 11 feet. He could complete the three-cone drill faster than wide receiver Rashod Bateman, taken four spots before him in the first round. What Oweh couldn’t do was reliably get to the quarterback; he had just seven sacks over 20 games at Penn State, including none in a coronavirus-shortened 2020 season.
In Baltimore, though, Oweh’s pass rush improvement has been swift and steady. According to Pro Football Focus, his pass rush win rate on “true pass sets” — a sample that excludes plays with play-action passes, screens, short drop-backs, a time to throw of less than two seconds or fewer than four pass rushers — has jumped 12 percentage points since his rookie year. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, his quarterback pressure rate rebounded from a dip in 2022 to a career high last season. Oweh ranked near the top of the league in both metrics in 2023.
2024 NFL Draft: Favorite picks for all 32 NFL teams
Trevor Sikkema, PFF
BALTIMORE RAVENS: CB T.J. TAMPA, PICK 130
This was a tough call, since the Ravens were able to get a lot of big board value out of Adisa Isaac, Tez Walker and Tampa, relative to where they were picked. But the Tampa selection had the widest gap in terms of where he was picked (130) and where he was on my board (51). I also really liked the selection because Baltimore already has Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins on the team. That allows them to potentially use Tampa as a versatile safety when needed. His preference for off-coverage lends itself to some backend work.
2024 NFL Draft: Chop Robinson to Dolphins, Trey Benson to Cardinals among best single picks made by each team
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
OT Roger Rosengarten (Round 2, No. 62)
Honorable mention: OL Nick Samac
Rosengarten is ready for battle on the edge. And what I mean by that is — he wants to quick set defensive linemen (be the aggressor) on passing plays, and he’s one of the rare cats at offensive tackle with the athletic twitch and hand work to do it. At nearly 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds, Rosengarten ran 4.92 in the 40-yard dash (96th percentile at the position) at the combine and starred in pass protection. And that’s vital now in Baltimore, right? The Ravens are a passing team under Todd Monken. Remember, Lamar Jackson set a career high in passing attempts in 2023. Rosengarten is plug and play at right tackle.
Ravens post-draft depth chart: Interesting decisions await at guard, outside linebacker
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
Offensive tackle
1. Ronnie Stanley (starting left tackle)
2. Roger Rosengarten (projected starting right tackle)
When he agreed to a contract alteration this offseason, which included a significant pay cut, Stanley ensured he’d be playing for his future in Baltimore this year. At right tackle, the Ravens aren’t in the business of handing rookies starting jobs. Rosengarten, a second-round pick, will likely have to beat out Faalele. Mekari could also enter that mix. However, the veteran is so valuable to the Ravens as the sixth offensive lineman who can come in and play all five positions up front.
Inside linebacker
1. Roquan Smith
3. Chris Board
4. Josh Ross
Simpson will enter training camp as the clear favorite to replace Patrick Queen and start alongside Smith. Board, one of the league’s better special teams linebackers in the NFL, will likely be the top reserve. Whether the Ravens add another veteran here probably depends on their confidence level in Ross and whether they keep Harrison outside or move him back inside. He can play both. At the very least, they’ll need a few more bodies to get through training camp.
Safety
1. Kyle Hamilton
3. Ar’Darius Washington
4. Sanoussi Kane
This is an area where the Ravens could use a solid veteran free agent, and there are plenty available, including Justin Simmons, Micah Hyde, Eddie Jackson, Jayron Kearse and Daryl Worley. Kane is a seventh-round rookie and Ar’Darius Washington, while he played safety in college, is probably better suited for a nickel corner role. If the Ravens are going to move Hamilton around like they did last year, they’ll need a trusted No. 3 safety. Marcus Williams has also dealt with some injuries, so quality depth here is imperative.
NFL Roster Weaknesses: Examining Each Team’s Biggest Need After Draft, Free Agency
Dakota Randall, Pro Football Network
Baltimore Ravens | Guard
This came down to edge rusher and guard, neither of which the Baltimore Ravens addressed during the draft. But we’re going with guard, as steady offensive line play is critical when Lamar Jackson is your quarterback.
The Ravens lost left guard John Simpson and right guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency. Are their internal replacements enough? We’ll find out.
Top 10 games of the 2024 NFL season: Super Bowl LVIII rematch, Harbaugh Bowl among enticing tilts
Kevin Patra, NFL.com
1. Baltimore Ravens VS. Pittsburgh Steelers
Provided he’s the starter for Pittsburgh at the time, Russell Wilson’s return to Denver will get plenty of press, but as far as pure watchability, his introduction to this AFC North rivalry in the first of the Steelers’ and Ravens’ annual showdowns offers a much higher rate of return. Both clubs have gone through a bit of a metamorphosis after flaming out last season. The new quarterback duo in Pittsburgh — Wilson and Justin Fields — is clearly the top storyline. Whoever winds up as the QB1 gives the Steelers more upside than they had last season. Pittsburgh added beef on the offensive line in the draft after getting pushed around the past few years. With King Henry pounding the rock for Baltimore alongside Lamar Jackson, we could get an old-school Ravens-Steelers matchup with much more physicality than we’ve seen lately. Given that their division plays teams from the NFC East this season, both these squads will have plenty of prime affairs against the likes of the Cowboys and Eagles. But for me, nothing gets the juices flowing like a hard-hitting Steelers-Ravens slobber knocker.
5. Baltimore Ravens AT Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL provides a brotherly matchup between the Chargers and Ravens. John Harbaugh brings Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and a re-imagined defense across the continent to face off against Justin Herbert and a reworked Chargers receiver corps. Jim is 0-2 in his NFL career versus his older brother, including in Super Bowl XLVII, when John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s 49ers. Not only will Jim be attempting to avenge those losses, but he’ll be doing so with several of John’s former assistants and players, including offensive coordinator Greg Roman and DC Jesse Minter. L.A. also swiped former Ravens backs Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins in free agency. The familiar nature of the clubs offers an enticing matchup of power on power. And count me in any time Jackson and Herbert take the same field.
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