Can Odafe Oweh Reach the Peak of NFL Greatness and Become the Baltimore Ravens’ Next Truly Dominant Edge-Rushing Force?
The NFL is a league of potential. Every year, scouts salivate over 40-yard dash times, wingspans, and raw athletic traits. Every draft cycle births a fresh crop of so-called “freaks”—players who test off the charts and inspire dreams of domination. But few combine raw physical ability with relentless motor quite like Odafe Oweh. The Baltimore Ravens linebacker has all the tools in the toolbox. The question now, several years into his career, still echoes across meeting rooms, sports talk shows, and defensive coordinator offices: Can Odafe Oweh reach dominance?
It’s a fair question, and one rooted in both hope and frustration. The former first-round pick has flashed undeniable brilliance. He’s explosive off the line. He bends around tackles with surprising ease. His closing speed borders on violent. And when he puts it all together, quarterbacks panic. But those flashes have come and gone. Dominance, in the NFL, is about consistency. And for Oweh, that remains the missing piece.
From the moment he was drafted out of Penn State in 2021, the spotlight was bright. Oweh didn’t register a single sack in his final college season, a fact that raised eyebrows. But the Ravens saw beyond the numbers. They saw a rare athlete with the potential to wreak havoc. At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, Oweh ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. That’s absurd for a defensive end. That’s unheard of for a man that size. And so, the Ravens bet on upside. They believed they could coach him into production. And early on, it looked like they might’ve been right.
His rookie year brought immediate impact. Oweh racked up five sacks, three forced fumbles, and 33 tackles. More importantly, he played with an energy that jumped off the screen. He wasn’t just making plays—he was disrupting rhythm, drawing attention, and forcing offenses to adjust. It wasn’t dominance, but it was something close to it. The path forward looked clear: add polish, refine technique, and let his physical tools do the rest.
But then came the sophomore slump. In 2022, Oweh regressed statistically. He finished with only three sacks and saw a noticeable drop in his pressure rate. At times, he looked hesitant, unsure of how to attack or how to counter. Offensive tackles started winning more often. The flashes grew dimmer. The whispers began: Is Oweh just an athlete, not a football player? Did Baltimore reach? Is the ceiling lower than we thought?
Yet behind the scenes, Oweh never stopped working. Coaches continued to rave about his practice habits, his willingness to be coached, his film study, and his desire to be great. They emphasized that development, especially at edge rusher, isn’t linear. Many great pass rushers take years before fully blossoming. After all, the jump from college to the pros—where offensive linemen are faster, stronger, and smarter—can expose even the most gifted talents.
Oweh’s journey took another step in 2023. While injuries limited his availability, when he was on the field, the improvement was evident. His get-off was sharper. His hand usage was more deliberate. He started winning inside counters. He learned to set the edge better against the run. Though his sack total (five) didn’t leap off the page, the tape told a fuller story. He wasn’t a superstar yet—but he was becoming a problem again.
So, can Odafe Oweh reach dominance? To answer that, we must define what dominance means in today’s NFL. Dominant edge rushers don’t just accumulate sacks. They dictate game plans. They force offensive coordinators to leave in tight ends or chip with running backs. They generate pressure even when they don’t get home. They make quarterbacks nervous. They show up in big moments. Think of T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, or Maxx Crosby—not just productive, but disruptive, week in and week out.
Does Oweh have that kind of ceiling? Physically, absolutely. Few players in the league can match his combination of size, speed, and explosiveness. His first step can rival almost anyone’s. When he’s locked in, he covers ground like a missile. And unlike some edge rushers, he doesn’t sacrifice run defense for pass rush glory. He’s disciplined enough to play the full role, which makes him more valuable on every down.
What’s held him back, until now, has been refinement. Great edge rushers don’t just rely on speed—they counter, they set up tackles, they disguise intentions. Oweh has been learning those things. Slowly, yes. But learning nonetheless. He’s added a bull rush. He’s gotten better at converting speed to power. His film study has deepened, allowing him to better anticipate snap counts, blocking schemes, and protection adjustments.
Now, entering 2025, the timing may be perfect. Oweh is no longer the rookie with expectations outweighing experience. He’s now a veteran, battle-tested and motivated to cash in on the potential that’s long followed him. The Ravens, too, have built a better environment for him to thrive. With a stacked secondary and improved interior defensive line, Oweh should see more one-on-one matchups. If he wins those consistently, the sacks will come. The disruption will pile up. And the dominance narrative will shift in his favor.
Mentally, Oweh seems more prepared than ever. He’s spoken candidly about embracing pressure, about not running from the label of “first-rounder” or the expectations that come with it. He’s taken ownership of his growth curve, refusing to make excuses and leaning into the coaching that will elevate him. That maturity matters. The NFL is a grind, and those who excel usually have the mental toughness to match the physical gifts.
Critics will argue that if dominance hasn’t arrived by now, it may never come. But that’s a simplistic view. Every player develops differently. Danielle Hunter didn’t break out until his fourth year. Za’Darius Smith bounced around before becoming a Pro Bowler. Patience, especially with pass rushers, often pays off. And when the baseline is a 6’5” edge rusher with 4.3 speed and a relentless work ethic, it’s foolish to assume the best has already passed.
So, yes, Oweh can reach dominance—but it will require three things. First, health. Availability is key. He needs to be on the field consistently to grow his rhythm and impact. Second, consistency. The flashes must become habits. One great game must be followed by another. And third, trust—both in himself and from his coaches. Trust to take risks. Trust to unleash his instincts. Trust that he’s no longer just potential, but production waiting to happen.
The Ravens are betting on that. Their scheme gives him freedom. Their culture demands excellence. Their expectations remain high. And Oweh, if he continues to trend upward, could finally become the nightmare edge rusher his physical gifts always promised.
Will he hit double-digit sacks this season? It’s possible. But more important than raw stats is presence. Can he be felt every snap? Can he shift blocking schemes? Can he tilt the field?
If the answer becomes yes, then dominance will have arrived.
The NFL has seen it before: raw, freakishly athletic pass rushers who took time to figure it out, then exploded into superstardom. Odafe Oweh has the tools. He has the mindset. And now, as he enters the prime of his career, all that remains is to put it together.
Because dominance isn’t just a stat line. It’s a reputation. It’s fear in a quarterback’s eyes. It’s silence in an opposing huddle. And if Odafe Oweh continues on his current path, the league won’t be asking if he can reach dominance.
They’ll be asking how they can possibly stop him.
