The Baltimore Ravens' trade of outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday came out of nowhere. However, that does not mean it was unexpected. Baltimore’s 1-4 start is among the worst in franchise history, and it does not appear to be getting better anytime soon.
They did receive safety Alohi Gilman in return, so there appears to be some hope in the organization that the team can get its season back on track. Time is running out, though.
If they want any shot at righting their ship heading into their Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Rams, a lot may be resting on the shoulders of their rookie second-round selection, Mike Green.
By moving Oweh, Green becomes the go-to guy next to veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy along the edge. He instantly becomes the biggest winner after this deal.
Mike Green is the clear winner of the Odafe Oweh trade
Green has been disappointing early in his NFL career. Early-career struggles are expected, but given the hype around Green throughout the 2025 NFL Draft, it is fair to say scouts saw Green making a bigger impact early on. Now, he will have a chance to turn the corner moving forward.
Green’s overall grade of 41.2, per Pro Football Focus, will not exactly blow people away. In fact, it ranks 161st among 169 qualifying edge defenders. However, he has the burst off the line of scrimmage and closing pursuit to be an X-factor off the edge. The Ravens are hoping those traits shine through soon, and the opportunities are going to keep coming.
The 22-year-old has been seeing more and more snaps in recent weeks, especially given the mounting injuries. That trend continued in Week 5 against the Houston Texans, where Baltimore’s entire edge rusher group was healthy, and Green continued to see that strong increase in snaps. However, he saw just 13 pass rush snaps compared to Oweh's 20. With Oweh gone, it is time to unleash the rookie.
Despite Green’s talent not translating into production just yet, it has been clear that the Ravens’ coaching staff has been gaining trust in Green, and that likely played a factor in the front office opting to move Oweh a quarter into the 2025 campaign.
It takes time for rookies to develop, and Green will need to keep sharpening his skills to take advantage of his increased role for the rest of the year. Baltimore is giving him a red carpet to do so with their latest trade.