The Beatdown staff react to the Baltimore Ravens exercising the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Odafe Oweh’s contract
On Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens exercised outside linebacker Odafe Oweh’s fifth-year option. Below are the Beatdown staff’s reactions to the news.
Exercising the fifth-year option on Oweh’s contract is a shrewd move. Although his counting stats have been less than ideal, Oweh’s underlying pass rush metrics have been encouraging. Pro Football Focus charted Oweh with 40 hurries last season and a 17.7 “win” percentage, the best mark among all Ravens edge rushers in 2023. As a three-down outside linebacker, he is expected to lead the position group in snaps next season. After entering the league with rare athletic measurables but raw technique, he has yet to reach his ceiling entering his fourth season. Furthermore, the $13.25 million cap hit for his fifth season ranks outside the top-20 for all edge rushers around the league. With a breakout fourth season, Oweh could earn a long-term cornerstone contract before his fifth year begins. — Vasilis Lericos
While somewhat surprising, the decision to pick up Oweh’s fifth-year option makes sense. Oweh is still in need a breakout year but has flashed enough playmaking and production to be confident a complete season is on the horizon. Finding edge rushers with his blend of raw athleticism and upside is not easy and he plays an important premier position. Now, he has the next two seasons to continue developing and emerge as an integral piece to the Ravens’ defensive success. This nullifies the risk of Oweh pricing himself out of Baltimore after 2024 and ensured the Ravens have adequate depth at the position. — Frank Platko
The Ravens had to watch 2020 first-round pick, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, walk in free agency following a breakout season in the final year of his rookie deal after they didn’t pick up his fifth-year option last offseason. By exercising Oweh’s fifth-year option they won’t have to worry about that happening again as he is poised to breakout in his fourth season and now will be under contract through 2025.
This ensures the Ravens’ outside linebacker depth chart will stay intact for two more years and Oweh’s salary of $13.251 million in the final year of his rookie deal could wind up being a tremendous bargain if he takes his game to another level and stays healthy after flashing game-breaking potential for stretches during his first three years in the league. Even if he doesn’t reach double-figures in sacks but still sets a new career high in 2024, his game has always been more about generating consistent pressures, although this could be the year he puts it all together. Getting ahead of the breakout and locking him up for another year is a smart move that could save them more in the long run if the two sides agree to an extension at anytime over the next two years. — Joshua Reed
While Bateman’s fifth-year option was maybe a questionable choice (and ultimately both unnecessary and not plausible), this wasn’t. Oweh has consistently flashed over his career. His floor was always a great run defender but quickly showed pass rush potential his rookie year with five sacks. Since then, while the production hasn’t been there, he’s had both high pass rush win rates and pressure numbers. A Justin Madubuike-like breakout is knocking on the door and securing an extra year for a premier pass rusher will be a discount at $12.53 million if Oweh hits his ceiling. — Zach Canter
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