Story by
Odafe Oweh signs $100 million contract with Commanders, per reports
- Story by
- Odafe Oweh signs $100 million contract with Commanders, per reports
Odafe Oweh broke out in 2025 after being traded to the Los Angeles Chargers . Now, the 27-year-old edge rusher is breaking the bank in 2026 NFL free agency.
The Washington Commanders are signing Oweh to a four-year free agent contract, according to multiple reports. The deal will be worth up to $100 million with $68 million in guarantees.
Advertisement
Oweh was expected to generate a lot of interest in free agency. He was ranked as the sixth-best free agent of the 2026 class overall by USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis .
Even so, few anticipated the athletic edge defender would get up to $100 million and $25 million in average annual value (AAV). Spotrac.com 's market value projection had the 27-year-old pass rusher getting just under $58 million over three years ($19.3 million AAV).
Washington, however, was willing to take the plunge as it looks to upgrade a pass rush that ranked 24th in pressure rate last season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats .
Oweh was a first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2021 NFL Draft. The hyper-athletic edge rusher generated 23 sacks across his first four seasons in Baltimore before logging zero across his first five games of the 2025 NFL season.
Advertisement
The Ravens decided to trade Oweh to the Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman . Upon joining Jesse Minter's defense in Los Angeles , Oweh starred – racking up 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers and 37 pressures, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats . Both ranked second-best on the team behind Pro Bowler Tuli Tuipulotu .
Oweh totaled 52 pressures, tied for the 24th in the NFL, in 2025 and graded as Pro Football Focus ' 26th-best edge rusher among 119 qualifiers.
Jacob Martin (44) and Von Miller (32) were the only Commanders to generate at least 30 pressures during the 2025 NFL season.
Here's what to know about Oweh's deal with the Commanders.
Advertisement
Odafe Oweh contract details
Oweh inked a four-year deal with the Commanders. Here's a look at the reported terms of his free-agent contract:
-
Term: 4 years
-
Total contract value: $100 million
-
Average annual value (AAV): $25 million
-
Guaranteed money: $68 million
Oweh's contract ranks 12th among NFL edge defenders in AAV, per OverTheCap.com . He is one of just 11 NFL edge defenders to have a contract worth at least $100 million.
Odafe Oweh stats
Below is a look at Oweh's stats from his five seasons with the Ravens and Chargers:
-
Games: 79
-
Tackles: 176
-
TFL: 34
-
Sacks: 30.5
-
Forced fumbles: 7
-
Pass defenses: 1
Oweh has only made 27 starts across his NFL career to date. He should see a more sizable role after inking his nine-figure contract with the Commanders.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Commanders, Odafe Oweh agree to massive contract: Full details
