The Los Angeles Chargers’ pass rush got off to a slow start in 2025 and badly needed an injection of talent off the edge. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, needed a third safety to free up Kyle Hamilton for a more versatile role near the line of scrimmage. Odafe Oweh had just 12 pressures and zero sacks in his first five games in Baltimore, and Alohi Gilman had fallen down the depth chart in Los Angeles.
In those circumstances, it probably was not hard for Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and his former protegé, now Chargers-GM Joe Hortiz to come together and make a deal. Given the relative value of each player’s position, Baltimore got a bit of a bump in trade compensation with some draft picks.
Chargers receive: Odafe Oweh, 2027 seventh-round pick
Ravens receive: Alohi Gilman, 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 162)
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter unlocked Oweh in Los Angeles. He posted 7.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss across his 12 regular games as a Charger and exploded in their wild card loss with three sacks, three tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. The 2021 first-rounder’s finishing in particular was much-improved from his time in Baltimore, and he spoke about how much the change in scenery helped his game.
Not only did Oweh show out in Los Angeles, but signing a four-year, $100 million deal with Commanders is expected to net the Chargers a fourth-round comp pick in 2027. Combined with his production, that is an excellent result for Hortiz.
The Chargers will have to wait until 2027 for both the pick from the Ravens and the compensatory pick from Oweh signing in Washington.
Gilman looked like a potential long-term running mate for Derwin James in 2023, but he took a step back in 2024. The Chargers shifted their safety rotation in 2025, moving Gilman behind Elijah Molden and Tony Jefferson with rookie RJ Mickens waiting in the wings.
The Ravens, though, needed a third safety to help take the load off rookie Malaki Starks and unlock Hamilton’s versatility. Gilman did that, providing serviceable but not high-level play and contributing more to the defense as a whole than he did as an individual player.
Gilman also signed a compensatory pick-worthy contract in free agency, though for significantly less than Oweh. His three-year, $24 million deal with the Chiefs cancels out the Ravens’ signing of John Simpson in the comp pick formula.
The Ravens selected Duke CB Chandler Rivers with the pick.