After selecting wide receiver Rashod Bateman with the 27th overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens stayed put with their second first-round selection and took Penn State edge rusher Odafe Oweh. Baltimore needed some help on the edge, as the team had three of their six edge contributors that played for them in 2020 leave in free agency.
Oweh brings plenty to the table in terms of pure athletic traits. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at his pro-day, which arguably vaulted him into the first-round conversation. He stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 257 pounds, giving him good size at the position. With his overall size and speed, he’s a matchup nightmare from the 3-4 outside linebacker position, where he’s expected to play with the Ravens.
Oweh has an array of moves that he uses to be a force in stopping both the passing game and running game of opposing offenses. He’s labeled as an ultimate disruptor and is someone who can make his impact felt in a multitude of ways.
Odafe Oweh has multiple moves that can make him a force both as a pass rusher and a run stopper pic.twitter.com/Wthq4AQzV4
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 30, 2021
One of the main concerns with Oweh was his lack of production in college. He didn’t have a single sack in 2020, and only accumulated seven sacks total throughout his three years with the Nittany Lions.
In selecting Oweh, Baltimore took a huge swing on the potential that he could untap. He is extremely raw in some areas and is still learning how to play the game, as he doesn’t have a ton of experience on the field (he played in only 20 games in college). However, there might not have been a better landing spot for him than with the Ravens, as the organization has both the coaches and the players to mentor him and help him grow into a phenomenal NFL talent. Although there were a few other big time names on the board that would have been great picks for Baltimore, the Ravens clearly think very highly of Oweh, and made sure to get their guy.
Grade: B
