Pass rusher Odafe Oweh has signed with the Washington Commanders, the team announced on Saturday. It’s reportedly a four-year, $100 million deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport
The contract comes with $68 million in guaranteed money, per the report.
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With the deal, the Commanders add a much-needed upgrade to a defense that ranked last in the league in yards allowed and 28th in pass defense last season. Oweh, 27, is a high-end pass rusher in his prime, two seasons removed from posting a career-high 10 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
The Commanders also signed 28-year-old defensive tackle Tim Settle to a reported a three-year, $24 million deal earlier this week. Settle started 23 games for the Houston Texans over the course of the last two seasons.
Commanders add much-needed pass rush help
Oweh joined the Chargers last season as a short-term rental to upgrade their pass rush via an in-season deal with the Ravens ahead of the trade deadline. He played 12 games with the Chargers after the trade, tallying 7.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, 28 combined tackles and 8 tackles for loss.
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Prior to the trade, Oweh was struggling with the Ravens on the heels of his career season and failed to record a sack in his five 2025 games with Baltimore. Now, thanks to his strong finish with the Chargers, Oweh has a lucrative deal to play for a Commanders team in desperate need of help in the pass rush.
Oweh immediately slots in as Washington’s top pass rusher. Von Miller led the Commanders with nine sacks last season at 36 years old. He was playing on a one-year contract and is now a free agent. No other Commanders player recorded more than 5.5 sacks last season.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. is Washington’s returning leader in sacks after posting 5.5 in 2025. Jake Martin also recorded 5.5 sacks, but is a pending free agent.
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Washington is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-12 campaign on the heels of advancing to the NFC championship game after the 2024 season. In addition to a return to health for quarterback Jayden Daniels, getting younger and better on defense is key to those hopes.