Odafe Oweh walked away from the LA Chargers to the tune of a four-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Commanders after being the spark plug Jesse Minter’s defense needed in 2025. A defensive line that struggled to generate pressure, especially with Khalil Mack dealing with injury, immediately saw success after Joe Hortiz went back to his old stomping grounds and pulled the former first-round pick out of Baltimore.
Even after saving money by pivoting to a budget option at center in Tyler Biadasz, Oweh’s price tag was clearly too high for Hortiz to match, and he followed the money to Washington. Mack is back, but that third edge rusher has yet to be addressed.
Could the team turn to Justin Eboigbe? Are they expecting a leap from fourth-round pick Kyle Kennard? It’s hard to say. But if all else fails, the Odafe Oweh replacement might be more obvious than it seems.
Jadeveon Clowney should be plugged in as the third edge rusher to replace Odafe Oweh
Jadeveon Clowney would be an excellent addition to this Chargers defense. Is he going to provide the same burst as the much younger Oweh? No. But for all the success Oweh saw playing alongside Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack, Clowney could thrive in a similar role with offenses focused on those two.
Jesse Minter may be gone, but there is little reason to doubt that new defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, coming from that same system, will know how to put a third pass rusher in position to succeed.
Clowney is not Oweh in terms of play style or explosiveness, but he remains a physically imposing and savvy veteran who can win with strength and experience. His 8.5-sack season with the Dallas Cowboys shows there is still production left.
Hortiz is not looking for a top-tier edge rusher to take snaps away from Tuipulotu or Mack, or even a potential early draft pick. What he needs is a veteran on a short-term, team-friendly deal who can still make an impact when given opportunities. That profile fits Clowney perfectly.
Clowney does not solve the Chargers’ long-term need at edge. Both he and Mack are nearing the later stages of their careers, and the position will still need to be addressed in the draft. However, at a projected price around one year and $6 million, Clowney would not prevent the team from adding a younger player early.
There is no reason he should not at least be in the building for a visit. He may not be a long-term answer, but his presence in 2026 would absolutely be felt.