Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh suggested on Monday that modifications could possibly be coming for his struggling crew. On Tuesday, they did within the type of a commerce to shake-up the crew’s traditionally dangerous protection. And it required him turning to the crew coached by his brother, Jim Harbaugh, to make the change occur.
The massive change for the Ravens this week: Buying and selling former first-round choose and EDGE Odafe Oweh, in addition to a 2027 seventh-round choose, to the Chargers in trade for security Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round choose.
Oweh was the Ravens’ first-round choose (No. 31 general) within the 2021 NFL Draft and has had an up-and-down profession with the Ravens. He arrived with numerous expectation so as to add some spark to the Ravens’ pass-rush, however he by no means actually produced constant outcomes. After recording a career-high 10 sacks in 2024, he has but to report a single sack in 5 video games and has simply 10 tackles.
He’s a pending unrestricted free agent after this season, and was most likely enjoying his approach out of a contract extension along with his lackluster begin to the season. The Chargers wanted some pass-rush assist and now Oweh will get a recent begin.
As for Gilman, he’ll deliver some much-needed assist to a battered secondary that has been coping with vital accidents, together with to star security Kyle Hamilton. The 28-year-old Gilman has been an everyday a part of the Chargers’ protection this season and has been a starter for the reason that starting of the 2023 season.
Will that be sufficient to repair the Raven’s protection? In all probability not. However they needed to do one thing given how dangerous they’ve been by means of the primary 5 video games.
Not solely have the Ravens allowed extra factors by means of 5 video games than they’ve in every other season in franchise historical past, their 177 factors in opposition to is among the worst marks by any crew by means of 5 video games within the historical past of the NFL (only 10 teams have been worse).
Gilman looks like a determined try at simply attempting to rearrange some deck chairs on a sinking ship of a season. At 1-4 the Ravens are actually coping with virtually no margin for error the remainder of the way in which and must attempt one thing. Possibly it is going to assist.
Getting a few of their injured gamers again wholesome (together with Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith and Hamilton) will assist extra. Even then it is perhaps somewhat too late. Particularly given the remainder of their schedule.
