The Los Angeles Chargers have yet again had one of the more solid pass rushes in the league this season, buoyed by both the breakout play of Tuli Tuipulotu and the strong rotational play of mid-season acquisition Odafe Oweh.
Yet, as Oweh, and their star pass rusher Khalil Mack, both near unrestricted free agency this offseason, the Chargers must begin the process of making a difficult decision over the final few weeks of the season: whether or not they want to bring Oweh back.
Given the fact that Mack's retirement is certainly still on the table, and that the Chargers will have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL this offseason, this might seem like a no-brainer. Yet, the team must truly evaluate over this final stretch of games in order to determine whether an upgrade will be necessary.
Odafe Oweh might be a solid rotational pass rusher, but are he and Tuipulotu the duo the Chargers need?
At this point, it's fair to say that the Chargers' and Ravens' mid-season trade was a success for both parties. Through the seven games he has played with Los Angeles, Oweh has amassed four sacks, seven QB hits, and four tackles for loss, helping solidify their pass rush both with and without Mack being in the lineup.
Meanwhile, Alohi Gilman, who the Chargers sent back in exchange for Oweh, has been solid for Baltimore, allowing Kyle Hamilton to roam the field more freely while he has helped to hold down the back line.
Yet, part of the reason the Ravens traded Oweh in the first place is because of his pending unrestricted free agency, and now Los Angeles must choose whether they want to pay the piper.
At this point, Mack's retirement is a real possibility, and, in many ways, it's hard to imagine this pass rush without him. Although he has just 4.5 sacks across the eight games he's played, he's still as much of a game-wrecker as ever.
If Mack were to retire, however, the Chargers have a serious consolation. Tuipulotu has truly entered star territory this season, amassing 10 sacks, 16 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss over the 12 games he's played.
Tuipulotu is certainly capable of taking over the role of the team's lead pass rusher. What the Chargers need to consider is whether Oweh is capable of stepping up alongside him.
They have very little depth beyond Tuipulotu and Oweh, with Bud Dupree and Kyle Kennard having been almost entirely ineffective this season, and their approach to this offseason depends entirely upon what they feel Oweh's potential impact could be.
Should they attempt to bring in a second edge rusher alongside Tuipulotu if Mack retires, keeping Oweh in a rotational role? Or would it be better to add depth at the position and allow Oweh to battle it out for a starting spot?
Or is it even possible that the Chargers will be priced out of Oweh's services given the upgrades they will need to make at other positions this offseason?
Even with Mack back, Oweh's snap counts have sat steadily around 50% of the Chargers' total defensive snaps. He now has five weeks to prove to the organization whether or not he can be that guy within the context of those opportunities.