The Ravens made a major deal on Tuesday. They sent veteran safety Alohi Gillman to the Chargers for Odafe Oweh, a fifth-year linebacker. Here are some instant reactions by the Baltimore Beatdown staff.

Odafe Oweh is a disappointment for the start of 2025. Oweh’s performance has been a disappointment after adding weight in the offseason and entering a year of contract. He has had no impact and as a consequence, his playing time has decreased. The Ravens’ decision to move on is not surprising, but the timing is.

It makes more sense that the reported return is true. Alohi Gilman, a solid safety for the Chargers this season, has started in all five games. He will allow the Ravens more flexibility in their three-safety package, allowing Kyle Hamilton to take on a more versatile position.

It doesn’t seem to be a move by a seller either. Selling would be keeping Oweh and hoping he can re-raise the value of his compensatory draft pick or trading him to get pure draft capital. Adding a veteran safety with an expiring deal is not selling. This is more of a bet that Mike Green and Tavius will replace Oweh and have a greater impact. This could be a sign that Adisa is close to returning. – Nikhil Mehta

I could not tell you if the Ravens are trying to figure out the best lineup for now or if they’re starting a firesale in order to retool their roster for 2026. Mike Green, a rookie who hasn’t had a great year, quickly overtook Oweh after Kyle Van Noy was injured. Oweh hasn’t done well either, but he’s arguably the best pass rusher since Nnamdi Madubuike was injured. Oweh is the pass rusher with the highest win rate for the team, but hasn’t reached the quarterback yet this year. He also plays less than half of the snaps in most games.

This could be the beginning of a new roster in 2026. We’ll see how fast more trades happen. – Zach Canter

You would never have believed me if you told me that this team would be sold out after just five weeks, but it’s unfortunately the case. I don’t think many people were surprised that Oweh would be leaving Baltimore after this season. It was just under a different circumstance.

Oweh, despite being a solid footballer and racking up double-digit sacks in the past year, has not lived up to expectations of a first-round pick. Over the years, he has been inconsistent and often disappeared in crucial moments when the defense needed someone to step up. This makes the Ravens’ already-nonexistent pass rush worse. Mike Green needs to continue playing a lot of snaps, and hopefully start to show the talent that made him a first rounder. – Dustin Cox

Odafe Oweh’s possible trade before the season was not even a thought in Ravens circles. Oweh had been expected to make a big step forward in his career and become a potential Pro Bowler. He has been disappointing through five games with no sacks, and minimal overall production. Oweh was in his contract year, and it is clear that the Ravens did not plan to extend him past this season. This could be seen as a mixture of getting value for a lost asset, while also hinting to a potential further trade-off if the Ravens struggle on in the coming weeks. Alohi Gillman, a defensive back of quality who should help the Ravens’ secondary, is worth the return for a pass rusher with 10 sacks. Owen’s departure is a disappointment as he seemed to be on a path to success. – Frank Plakto