Ravens make desperation commerce to shake up struggling protection
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh urged on Monday that adjustments might be coming for his struggling staff. On Tuesday, they did within the type of a commerce to shake-up the staff’s traditionally unhealthy protection. And it required him turning to the staff coached by his brother, Jim Harbaugh, to make the change occur.
The large change for the Ravens this week: Buying and selling former first-round decide and EDGE Odafe Oweh, in addition to a 2027 seventh-round decide, to the Chargers in alternate for security Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round decide.
Oweh was the Ravens’ first-round decide (No. 31 general) within the 2021 NFL Draft and has had an up-and-down profession with the Ravens. He arrived with a variety of expectation so as to add some spark to the Ravens’ pass-rush, however he by no means actually produced constant outcomes. After recording a career-high 10 sacks in 2024, he has but to file a single sack in 5 video games and has simply 10 tackles.
He’s a pending unrestricted free agent after this season, and was most likely enjoying his manner out of a contract extension along with his lackluster begin to the season. The Chargers wanted some pass-rush assist and now Oweh will get a recent begin.
As for Gilman, he’ll deliver some much-needed assist to a battered secondary that has been coping with important accidents, together with to star security Kyle Hamilton. The 28-year-old Gilman has been an everyday a part of the Chargers’ protection this season and has been a starter for the reason that starting of the 2023 season.
Will that be sufficient to repair the Raven’s protection? In all probability not. However they needed to do one thing given how unhealthy they’ve been by means of the primary 5 video games.
Not solely have the Ravens allowed extra factors by means of 5 video games than they’ve in another season in franchise historical past, their 177 factors towards is among the worst marks by any staff by means of 5 video games within the historical past of the NFL (solely 10 groups have been worse).
Gilman looks as if a determined try at simply attempting to rearrange some deck chairs on a sinking ship of a season. At 1-4 the Ravens are actually coping with virtually no margin for error the remainder of the way in which and should attempt one thing. Perhaps it’ll assist.
Getting a few of their injured gamers again wholesome (together with Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith and Hamilton) will assist extra. Even then it may be just a little too late. Particularly given the remainder of their schedule.
