Despite all of the publicity that's gone towards the Los Angeles Chargers' pursuit of new interior offensive linemen, it's not their only need this offseason. The Chargers must also keep their pass rush intact.
With both Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack set to hit the open market, this task is much easier said than done. Mack has stated that he wants to return to the NFL in 2026, but he also stated that he will take a look at all of his options. Although the most likely scenario remains that he will return to Los Angeles, another team could easily swoop in and drive up the price on that contract.
The more perilous scenario, however, lies in Odafe Oweh's free agency. After acquiring Oweh from the Baltimore Ravens in a mid-season trade, he became an integral part of Los Angeles's pass rush. In an ideal world, both Mack and Oweh are brought back for next season.
Oweh will likely command an annual value near $20 million on his next deal. If a team in need of a pass rusher decides to inflate that value even further, it could quickly become untenable for the Chargers to match that.
But that task just became a little easier for Los Angeles. One of Oweh's primary suitors, the Ravens, just bowed out of the running with their blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby.
The Chargers have one less Odafe Oweh suitor to worry about
In just 12 games with the Chargers, Oweh revived his value on the open market to an almost incomprehensible degree. He amassed 7.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 13 QB hits in that span. As it stands, he could be the highest-paid edge rusher on the market outside of Trey Hendrickson.
Ironically, almost no team was in greater need of a disruptive pass rusher than Baltimore last season. Although acquiring Alohi Gilman in the Oweh trade allowed them to cement their secondary, they finished the season with just 30 sacks— tied for the third-fewest in the league.
If they ultimately let Tyler Linderbaum walk in free agency, their restructuring of Lamar Jackson's contract would have opened up ample cap space for them to sign someone of Oweh's caliber. With Jesse Minter at the helm, it's likely that the Ravens would have been an extremely attractive destination for Oweh.
But their acquisition of Crosby for a pair of first-round picks has turned the market on its head.
There will still be suitors for Oweh. Teams like the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers could swoop in and make the bidding tough for Los Angeles. For now, however, Los Angeles can rest assured that the most dangerous suitor has taken themselves out of the running.