After the Baltimore Ravens’ 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 3, it is clear the defense is a problem. They failed to get much pressure on Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, could not contain their running game, and fell apart in the secondary.
The Monday Night Football matchup was a huge chance for several young players and under-the-radar contributors to make their presence felt. Without Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, the pass rush and interior defensive line needed players to step up.
One of those players expected to step into a more critical role was fourth-year outside linebacker David Ojabo. It seems he did not earn that opportunity, though. The 2022 second-round pick played just six snaps, despite the injuries on defense. The coaching staff may have given up on him, but he could find a new home soon with an NFC contender.
The San Francisco 49ers moved to 3-0 with their Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. However, they lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa for the season with a torn ACL. They will need rookie first-round selection Mykel Williams to step up in his absence, but could also turn to the trade market for depth off the edge. Ojabo could be a potential acquisition.
David Ojabo to the 49ers makes too much sense
Baltimore needs Ojabo as a depth piece for now. Van Noy is expected to be out for at least one more week with his hamstring injury, but once he returns, Ojabo could soon be dealt. The move would become extremely more likely if second-year pro Adisa Isaac progresses well in his recovery from his dislocated elbow that he suffered in the preseason.
For the 49ers, Ojabo would be a buy-low candidate. Their duo of Bryce Huff and Williams could prove to be good enough, but their depth is concerning. Yetur Gross-Matos is a solid rotational option with 17 career sacks, but Ojabo could add another dimension to the group with juice along the outside.
Ojabo posted a 68.1 defensive grade, per Pro Football Focus, in limited action in Week 3. He had just one pass rush opportunity and five plays against the run. While he has not been the player most scouts expected coming out of college, largely due to his Achilles and ACL tears, he is being wasted in Baltimore. He deserves another chance to prove himself before hitting free agency in the 2026 offseason, and that could come in San Francisco.