Commanders Land Odafe Oweh in Major Free Agency Move Worth $100 Million

The Washington Commanders made a significant move in the offseason by signing former Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Odafe Oweh to a lucrative four-year, $100 million contract, as reported by NFL insider Jonathan Jones from CBS Sports. This deal includes $68 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Oweh's contract ranks as the third-largest in the current free agency period, following Jaelan Phillips's four-year, $120 million deal with the Carolina Panthers and Alec Pierce's four-year, $114 million agreement with the Indianapolis Colts. At an average of $25 million per season, Oweh's deal stands as the ninth-richest among edge defenders, as noted by Spotrac. This substantial contract stems from Oweh's impressive performance during the latter half of the previous season. Originally a first-round pick in 2021 by the Baltimore Ravens, Oweh struggled with consistency, failing to record any sacks in his first five games before being traded to the Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman. Once in Los Angeles, Oweh's performance improved dramatically, achieving 7.5 sacks in 12 regular-season games and a standout three-sack game with two forced fumbles in the wild card round against the New England Patriots. At just 27 years old, with an athletic profile that includes a sub-4.40 40-yard dash and measurements of 6-5 and 251 pounds, Oweh's skills have made him a sought-after player, earning him the No. 7 ranking among free agents by Pete Prisco. This signing comes as the Commanders aim to rebound from a disappointing 5-12 season, where they struggled defensively. Both coach Dan Quinn and GM Adam Peters emphasized the need for a younger, more athletic roster, and Oweh fits that bill perfectly.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-03-09