Ravens pick up OLB Odafe Oweh’s fifth-year option

Two more years of outside linebacker Odafe Oweh are in order for the Baltimore Ravens after the team announced they will be picking up the 2021 first-rounders fifth-year option.

It was unclear if the Ravens were set to do so as general manager Eric DeCosta kept the decision to himself during the pre-draft press conference and once more during the post-draft press conference.

“We’ll have an announcement, probably, in the next few days, I would think,” DeCosta said when asked.

DeCosta also deflected a follow up on if he’d at least already made the decision.

“You know what, I learned from [executive vice president] Ozzie [Newsome] never to make a decision until you have to, and that has served me well, and I think it’s smart, usually, to act that way,” DeCosta said.

Some took this as a sign the Ravens weren’t planning to pick up the high-potential linebackers deal. Alas, that wasn’t the case as the team now has Oweh under contract for through 2025.

By picking up Oweh’s option, the Ravens are projected to pay him $13.25 million guaranteed in 2025, per overthecap.com. In doing so, they’re putting significant faith in Oweh, something they’ve repeatedly said aloud, but are now showing in their financial actions.

As it stands, paying Oweh $13.25 million ranks No. 22 among average annual value (AAV) for edge rushers. This amount could easily prove to be a bargain if he produces at the level he did last season but remains healthy for 17 games. According to Pro Football Focus, Oweh ranked No. 10 among all EDGE defenders in pass rush win rate at 18.2% (minimum 100 pass rushes). He was persistently rattling quarterbacks.

With the Ravens re-signing only one of their standout outside linebacker veterans last season in Kyle Van Noy, Oweh is expected to have a greater role in 2024. That leaves Oweh primed for a breakout campaign.