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Odafe Oweh

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Odafe Oweh
Oweh with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024
No. 98 – Washington Commanders
PositionDefensive end
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1998-12-15) December 15, 1998 (age 27)
Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High schoolBlair Academy (Blairstown, New Jersey)
CollegePenn State (2018–2020)
NFL draft2021 (1st round, 31st overall pick)
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Tackles176
Sacks30.5
Forced fumbles7
Fumble recoveries3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Odafe Jayson Oweh (/əˈdɑːfeɪ ˈoʊweɪ/; born December 15, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Oweh played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Early life

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Oweh, of Nigerian descent, was born on December 15, 1998, in Hackensack, New Jersey.[1] He attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey.[2] While at Blair Academy, he became best friends with former teammate David Ojabo.[3] He was selected to play in the 2018 Under Armour All-America Game.[4] Oweh committed to Penn State to play college football.[5]

College career

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As a true freshman at Penn State in 2018, Oweh played in four games and had two sacks.[6][7][8][9] As a sophomore in 2019, he played in 13 games with one start and had 21 tackles and five sacks.[10] He recorded 38 tackles, including seven tackles for a loss, in the 2020 season.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4+7⁄8 in
(1.95 m)		257 lb
(117 kg)		34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m)		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		6 ft 10 in
(2.08 m)		4.37 s1.59 s2.59 s4.20 s6.90 s39.5 in
(1.00 m)		11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)		21 reps
All values from Pro Day[11][12]

Baltimore Ravens

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2021 season

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Oweh was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (31st overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, which they previously obtained in a trade that sent Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs. Soon after the draft, Oweh announced that he would be going by his first name Odafe instead of his middle name Jayson, which he went by in college to avoid confusion regarding the pronunciation of his first name.[13] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $12.6 million, on June 10, 2021.[14]

Oweh got his first career forced fumble and recovery late in the fourth quarter against Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs, his second career game. The turnover helped seal a 36–35 victory.[15] He was named the defensive player of the week for his performance, which included three tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He also had a quarterback hit on Patrick Mahomes that led to an interception by his teammate Tavon Young.[16] He would not play the final two weeks of the season due to injury, becoming just one of the many Ravens players that would be injured that season.[17] Oweh finished his rookie season with 33 total tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and a pass breakup.[18] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[19]

2022 season

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In Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills, he forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Marcus Williams and also had a sack on Josh Allen. However, the Ravens would lose 20–23.[20] He finished the season with 43 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a recovery in 17 games and six starts.[21]

2023 season

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In 13 games and five starts in 2023, Oweh finished fourth on the team with five sacks, along with 23 tackles and two forced fumbles.[22][23]

2024 season

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On April 30, 2024, the Ravens picked up the fifth-year option on Oweh's contract.[24] He made 17 appearances (10 starts) for Baltimore, compiling one forced fumble, 10 sacks, and 39 combined tackles.

2025 season

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Oweh made five appearances (two starts) during the 2025 season, recording 10 combined tackles.

Los Angeles Chargers

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On October 7, 2025, Oweh and a 2027 seventh-round pick were traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 162: Chandler Rivers).[25]

Washington Commanders

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On March 14, 2026, Oweh signed with the Washington Commanders on a four-year, $100 million contract with $68 million guaranteed.[26][27]

Career statistics

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NFL

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLFFFRYdsTDIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
2021BAL 152332310553200000001
2022BAL 176433013371100000000
2023BAL 13523203542000000000
2024BAL 17103925141091000000000
2025BAL 521055010000000000
LAC 1222815137.580000000000
Career 79271761185830.5347300000001

Postseason

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Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLFFFRYdsTD
2022BAL 10220110000
2023BAL 20202000000
2024BAL 20330110000
2025LAC 10440332000
Career 601192552000

College

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College statistics
Season GP Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
SoloAstCombTFLSckFFFRYdsTDIntYdsTDPD
2018 440422.000000000
2019 131382155.020000001
2020 720183870.000000001
Career24372663147.020000002

Personal life

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Oweh's younger brother, Otega Oweh, is a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association.[28]

References

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  1. ↑ Mink, Ryan. "Odafe Oweh, Nnamdi Madubuike, David Ojabo Host Football Camp in Nigeria". baltimoreravens.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Odafe Oweh explains why he will go by first name in NFL". RSN.
  3. ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 8, 2023). "Cover Story: The Oweh-Ojabo Brotherhood". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  4. ↑ Werner, Barry (September 13, 2017). "Jayson Oweh honored to reach Under Armour All-American 'dream'". Usatodayhss.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ Wogenrich, Mark (January 6, 2018). "Penn State adds 4-star Blair Academy DE to 2018 recruiting class". mcall.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Jayson Oweh A Rising Star For Penn State Football, 'Going To Be Unstoppable'". Onward State. July 19, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ King, Tyler (September 4, 2019). "'Raw' Jayson Oweh continuing to make progress on Penn State's defensive line". inquirer.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ Bodani, Frank (June 3, 2019). "Penn State football: Meet young DE who Micah Parsons calls 'freakish'". York Daily Record. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ Pegler, Will (October 31, 2019). "Jayson Oweh Is Just Getting Started For Penn State Football". Onward State. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Jayson Oweh Included In Pro Football Network's 'Most To Gain In 2020 Season' List". Onward State. July 11, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Odafe Oweh Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Jayson Oweh, Penn State, DE, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ Gordon, Grant (April 29, 2020). "Ravens pick WR Rashod Bateman at No. 27, take pass rusher Jayson Oweh at No. 31". NFL. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  14. ↑ Shaffer, Jonas (June 11, 2021). "First-round pick Odafe Oweh signs rookie deal with Ravens, leaving just two selections unsigned". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Chiefs vs. Ravens - Game Summary - September 19, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Titans RB Derrick Henry, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray among NFL Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  17. ↑ Oestreicher, Kevin (April 1, 2022). "Ravens HC John Harbaugh gives update on OLB Odafe Oweh". Ravens Wire. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Odafe Oweh 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  19. ↑ "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens - October 2nd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Odafe Oweh 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Odafe Oweh 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  23. ↑ "2023 Baltimore Ravens Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  24. ↑ Mink, Ryan (April 30, 2024). "Ravens Exercise Fifth-Year Option on Odafe Oweh". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers Acquire Outside Linebacker Odafe Oweh". chargers.com. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  26. ↑ Shook, Nick (March 9, 2026). "Commanders signing pass rusher Odafe Oweh to four-year, $100 million contract". NFL.com.
  27. ↑ "Commanders sign DE Odafe Oweh". Commanders.com. March 14, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Otega Oweh Drafted No. 41 Overall in 2026 NBA Draft". UK Athletics. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
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