The Baltimore Ravens have turned their lineup upside down on the defensive side. They traded edge rusher Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers and received safety Alohi Gilman in return. The Ravens are having a brutal season as they sit 31st in the league in pass defense. They’ve been the most generous team to score on in all of the NFL, allowing a whopping 35.4 points per game.
Defensive Coordinator Don Martindale and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh are both quick to praise the impact of veteran safety Tony Jefferson. He is expected to assume the starting position for Gilman. Jefferson’s experience should be priceless as the Ravens look to rebound from a subpar performance on the defensive side of the ball. Considering they added Gilman and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who joined the practice squad as a free agent, their secondary can be immensely improved. This upgrade will be further pronounced once dynamic safety Kyle Hamilton returns from injury.
Hamilton’s return will allow him to play closer to the line of scrimmage, enhancing the Ravens’ ability to disrupt opposing offenses. Malaki Starks will be assuming deep safety duties. This change might lead to more chances for Hamilton to affect the game elsewhere on the floor. This tactical shift tries to address what is the Ravens’ real Achilles heel on defense. It might open doors for better performance off the field.
Yet even after these changes, the Ravens remain hamstrung. Their defense has been atrocious, being bottom five in almost every category, including pass defense. The desire to shore up the state of the pass rush is still very much alive, leading to speculation about trade targets. The best remaining outside linebackers still on the board for Baltimore are Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green and David Ojabo.
Mina Kimes analyzed the trade, noting that despite Gilman’s fluctuating performance this season, the Ravens believe his skill set can help stabilize their defense. The Chargers wanted an outside edge rusher much more than they even needed a safety. In the end, this trade was a win-win layout for both teams.
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