The Washington Commanders kicked off their recruitment with a bang by agreeing to terms with edge rusher Odafe Oweh. It's a massive deal that significantly raises expectations. It's also a huge gamble.
Oweh has the size, length, and speed the Commanders desperately need on the defensive edge. New coordinator Daronte Jones will have a plan on how best to maximize his skill set, and head coach Dan Quinn is going to love the relentless energy he brings to the table.
However, not everyone is convinced. One NFL analyst blasted the move, claiming general manager Adam Peters had fallen into the same free agency trap that could prove extremely costly.
NFL insider blasts Commanders for splashing the cash on Odafe Oweh
Daniel Popper of The Athletic gave the move a D+ grade. He thought Oweh was nothing more than a No. 2 edge rusher or a good No. 3 based on what he's shown throughout his career. The Commanders are paying him to be much more, and saying the analyst wasn't entirely convinced would be an understatement.
"This feels like a cardinal sin of free agency: paying a good player like a great player. [Odafe] Oweh benefited from playing in packages with Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. He can be a capable No. 2 rusher. He is at his best as a high-quality third rusher, as evidenced from this past season. He is not a No. 1 rusher. The Commanders are paying him to be that player. Oweh has to ascend further as a player to make good on this deal."
There are concerns with every signing, of course. Oweh may have also been a second option after the Commanders missed on Jaelan Phillips, who landed a megabucks deal with the Carolina Panthers. At the same time, this opportunity in Washington could be precisely what the Penn State product needs to reach another level.
The Commanders see something in Oweh. He was reportedly in high demand on the open market, so Peters had to pay above the going rate to secure him. A four-year, $100 million contract with $80 million guaranteed is a lofty commitment, but Washington has money to spend.
It's a leap of faith from the Commanders. They have placed a significant wager on Oweh's physical upside becoming a legitimate three-down force opposite Dorance Armstrong Jr. He'll get license to wreak havoc in Jones' projected 3-4 defensive front, which now has another space-eater on the interior after Washington reached a deal with Tim Settle. But if he starts poorly, pressure is only going to build.
Oweh will now know what's expected. The Commanders have complete confidence. Let's see how it all plays out.