The Los Angeles Chargers traded for Odafe Oweh midway through the 2025 season, and he immediately became a key part of the defense. Entering the season on the heels of a 10-sack campaign, the former first-round pick struggled to do much of anything with the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded just 10 tackles and no sacks through the first five games of the season, and the Chargers acquired him for safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick.
This proved to be a great investment, as the change in scenery brought out the best in the veteran. Appearing in 12 games with the Chargers, Odafe Oweh recorded 7.5 sacks, 28 tackles, and eight tackles-for-loss while helping the team make the playoffs despite enduring several injuries.
Now set to hit the open market, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes the Chargers could use the franchise tag to keep Odafe Oweh in town.
“But frankly, it makes sense for the Chargers to do whatever it takes to keep Oweh from ever reaching the open market,” Davenport writes. “…An issue in Los Angeles is depth at the edge opposite Tuli Tuipulotu – Khalil Mack is a 34-year-old pending free agent coming off an injury-plagued season.”
Chargers Projected to Use the Franchise Tag on Odafe Oweh
In a perfect world, the Los Angeles Chargers will extend Odafe Oweh long before he reaches the open market. After all, edge defender is arguably the most important non-quarterback position in football. Oweh proved he can play well under head coach Jim Harbaugh, and he’s only 27 years old. Young players with 10-sack potential like him generally do pretty well for themselves on the open market, and the Chargers would be wise to invest in the veteran.
However, if the two sides can’t agree to a long-term deal before the start of the new league year, then the Chargers will probably use the franchise tag to keep him around for at least one more season. Official numbers have not yet been released, but OverTheCap projects the franchise tag for defensive ends to be $27.3 million.
This is obviously a big number, but the Chargers can afford it. As of this posting, the team has $88.6 million in cap space, the third-most in the league. This team can use the franchise tag on Odafe Oweh and still have money left over to improve the interior offensive line and pass-catching weapons – and they can create more space by releasing players like Mekhi Becton.
Entering the offseason with this much money after an injury-plagued 11-6 season means the Chargers have the chance to be legitimate contenders next year, assuming they make the right moves. Ensuring Odafe Oweh wears a Chargers jersey next year should be one of the team’s top priorities, and they have the financial resources to accomplish that goal.
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