Commanders' defender named among 10 worst free agency moves

The Washington Commanders have a fair amount of cap space to work with in 2026, and so far, they've used that cap space wisely. They've brought in players, they've let some go, and now they are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft.

One of the Commanders' goals this offseason was to get younger and faster on defense, and plug some gaping holes while they were at it. Edge rusher Odafe Oweh was one of those signings, and there have been several outlets that feel the Commanders overspent on him, but Bleacher Report is naming it one of the 10 worst signings of 2026.

The Washington Commanders can't be faulted for targeting a pass-rusher in free agency—the team had 42 sacks in 2025, but the leading edge-rusher in that category was 37-year-old Von Miller.

The team settled on Odafe Oweh, giving the sixth-year pro a four-year, $96 million deal that included almost $70 million in guarantees.

While speaking to reporters, Oweh said the next step for him is refining his technique as a pass-rusher.

"Knowing my spots. Understanding down and distance. Tendencies based on the situation and diagnosing run or pass. Really taking advantage to get that jump on the count," said Oweh. "Playing the game of pass rushing. I think I've gotten better at that."

To be fair, Oweh was fairly productive the past couple of seasons—he logged 10 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 and posted 7.5 in 12 games after being traded in-season to the Los Angeles Chargers.

But the fact that Baltimore gave up on a 10-sack player and flipped him for a so-so defensive back and a Day 3 pick says something—and that something isn't great.

Oweh had just 13 sacks over the first three seasons of his career combined. He has never been much of a factor against the run—he has hit the 40-tackle mark just once. His 47 pressures and 16.4 percent pass-rush win rate last year per PFF were good, but not great.

Oweh's average annual salary ranks among the 12 best edge-rushers in the game. His production and talent does not.

Okay, so let's think about a couple of things here. The Baltimore Ravens getting rid of Oweh could have been for a lot of reasons, and they aren't all bad. For one, the Ravens started that season 1-4, and Oweh was unproductive early last year in a contract year. When he went to Los Angeles, he flourished (7.5 sacks in 12 games). He was also dominant in the Chargers' postseason game. So perhaps it just wasn't a good fit anymore.

Let's also consider that a player's value is 100% determined by the team that signs him. Oweh was unanimously regarded a top-10 free agent, so someone was going to pay him. He's still under 30 and fits the bill for what the Commanders were looking for, so they paid him what they thought he was worth. That doesn't make it a bad signing.

Oweh is only 27 and is coming off his two best NFL seasons. The Commanders are projecting that trend will continue for the 2021 first-round pick.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Odafe Oweh named one of worst free agency moves