It’s a big move for a Ravens team that’s willing to shake things up following a 1-4 start to the season, in which it has given up a league-high 177 points (35.4 per game).
A Ravens first-round pick in 2021, Oweh posted a career-high 10 sacks last season – the second-most on the team. Baltimore picked up Oweh’s fifth-year option for this offseason, a $13.25 million salary cap hit, in hopes that he would have an even bigger breakout year that hasn’t materialized yet.
Oweh had zero sacks and 10 tackles through Baltimore’s first five games this season and was getting far fewer snaps than fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson. Oweh has played 45% of the snaps so far this season, while Robinson has played 70%.
Baltimore’s secondary is banged up, with Kyle Hamilton dealing with a groin injury that sidelined him in the Ravens’ lopsided loss to the Houston Texans last week. It remains to be seen whether Hamilton will be able to return for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Even once Hamilton is back on the field, the Ravens want to be able to use him in more dynamic ways to maximize his versatility. The Achilles injury suffered by Ar’Darius Washington in May has limited Baltimore’s safety usage.
Gilman, 28, had spent his six-year career with the Chargers and has started all five games this season with 22 tackles and three passes defensed. A 2020 sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame (and previously Navy), he has been a full-time starter each of the past three seasons in Los Angeles.
He’s a 5-foot-10, 200-pound safety who has received high grades for his tackling over his six seasons with the Chargers. Gilman has five interceptions, 21 passes defensed, and 252 tackles over his six NFL seasons. The Ravens also added safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad Tuesday.
Oweh was one of the Ravens’ many players due to hit free agency this offseason. General Manager Eric DeCosta was clear that Baltimore would not be able to retain them all, and he reportedly got trade compensation and help in the secondary now. The Ravens also reportedly save $8 million on this year’s salary cap.
It’s a reported deal between two organization with a lot of connections, as it’s Harbaugh to Harbaugh and DeCosta and former Ravens front office executive Joe Hortiz.