The Buffalo Bills might have just gained a serious challenger for the top spot in the AFC. In a shocking twist, the Los Angeles Chargers have traded for former Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Odafe Oweh. There had been almost no buzz about an Oweh trade in recent weeks, but news broke early this week about the mid-season blockbuster.
The deal saw the pass rusher move from Baltimore to L.A. in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman, an impactful trade between the Harbaugh brothers.. A late-round pick swap was also included. With Oweh in the building, the Chargers now have one of the most dangerous defenses in the NFL. Despite their injury woes on offense, this deal could vault Justin Herbert's team toward the top of the conference.
If the Chargers' newest defender shines in Los Angeles, the Bills may be stuck wishing that they had thought to make the move first.
Bills lose out on Odafe Oweh as Chargers make big trade
The Bills have seen decent production from their edge defenders so far this season, including a career resurgence from free-agent signing Joey Bosa and another solid start from Gregory Rousseau. But the position could absolutely still be improved. Unless rookie Landon Jackson takes a big step forward in the back half of the year, Buffalo sorely lacks depth on the edge. With Bosa's concerning injury history, that could be a major problem.
Oweh could have been the perfect fix. The former first-round pick hasn't quite lived up to expectations with the Ravens, but he's coming off a career year in which he produced double-digit sacks. He's explosive off the edge, bringing a unique combination of speed and power to the table. While he's failed to make a major impact this season, the 26-year-old is still a capable defender.
Not only would he have deepened Buffalo's rotation on the edge, Oweh could have been a long-term solution across from Rousseau. Bosa has been solid so far this year, but there's no telling whether he'll suit up for the Bills next season. Buffalo could have locked down an elite edge duo for years to come.
Maybe the Bills never knew that this trade was brewing between their conference foes. Maybe they just didn't have the assets that Baltimore was looking for in return. But a move like this could have solidified their spot at the top of the AFC. Instead, it has strengthened one of their most dangerous playoff opponents.