Latest news with #OdafeOweh
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens stars host second annual youth football camp in Nigeria
Odafe Oweh and Nnamdi Madubuike are growing the great game of football by hosting a football camp in Lagos. As easy as it is to love the NBA and Major League Baseball, there's just something about the NFL and this beautiful game of American football. It's our game. These are our Baltimore Ravens, but over the years, there has been an obvious attempt to expand the National Football League's viewing audience. NFL games have been played in London, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Dublin, and Melbourne. Hopefully, games will be played in Africa at some point. Where would this game be without the contributions of both stars and legends who hailed from the Mother Continent or were of African descent? There are too many to name, but guys like Christian Okoye, Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Tamba Hali come to mind. So do Ravens stars Odafe Oweh and Nnamdi Madubuike. The latter two have joined forces to help grow the game and maybe mentor some of its future stars. Odafe Oweh and Nnamdi Madubuike host a youth football camp in Lagos OTAs and Ravens mandatory minicamp are in our rearview mirror. The guys are taking a break before they tackle training camp. Oweh and Madubuike headed to Lagos, where they are hosting a second annual youth football camp. There are so many great things that can be said about this, but perhaps the best compliment that Oweh and Madubuike can be given is a 'thank you'. This is awesome and should be celebrated. Most of us found success because someone believed in us. Someone invested a little extra time, and that made a world of difference. That's what two great Ravens are doing. Here's a tip of the cap. Maybe there isn't another Odafe Oweh or Nnamdi Madubuike in the bunch, but there might be. There might also be some future doctors or lawyers. Whatever they choose to do in life, something can be guaranteed. Some of the kids in this mixture will one day credit this for helping them find their confidence. That should put a smile on all of our faces.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Baltimore Ravens Key Defender Nate Wiggins Bulks Up Ahead of 2025
Baltimore Ravens Key Defender Nate Wiggins Bulks Up Ahead of 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Ahead of his second season in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins joined a teammate in adding some weight. Advertisement On the heels of the news that linebacker Odafe Oweh bulked up this offseason with another 20 pounds head of mandatory minicamp, second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins said on Friday that he's done the same. 'It was a big offseason for me to just gain weight and get stronger,' Wiggins said. 'I gained like 10 pounds. I'm a lot stronger and a lot bigger.' That could be a big 10 pounds for Wiggins, who was listed at 6-1 and just 173 pounds coming out of Clemson as the 30th overall pick in the first round of last year's NFL Draft. In Wiggins' NFL Draft profile, Lance Zierlein didn't directly mention his size, but did discuss his toughness. Advertisement "He needs to become a tougher player in run support and when contesting catches against NFL size," Zierlein wrote. "Wiggins' speed, scheme versatility and playmaking instincts should make him the most sought-after cornerback in the draft." Sometimes, size, especially muscle, can increase toughness. Wiggins appeared in 15 games last season as a rookie with six starts. He registered 33 total tackles with 25 solo, and added 13 passes defended, an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble. He finished 11th in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and ended the season with a 70.7 overall grade per Pro Football Focus. That's good enough for sixth-best for rookie cornerbacks last season. Advertisement Related: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Misses Roster Bonus by Skipping OTAs ... Again Related: Ravens Cornerback Makes Top 10 Position Rankings Ahead of 2025 NFL Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Emerge As 'Makes Sense' Suitor for Pro Bowler
Ravens Emerge As 'Makes Sense' Suitor for Pro Bowler originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens have Pro Bowl talent up and down the roster. The offense is amongst the most complete and versatile in the NFL, and the defense features impact players on all three levels. Advertisement Zach Orr's defense underwent some growing pains in his first year as coordinator, but the team returns a lot of promise for this season, with hopes a full year of experience in his system will result in more production in 2025. One area of the defense that might raise a sense of urgency is the pass rush. Veteran Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh - two double-digit sack-getters - are on expiring contracts. Baltimore drafted college football's sack champion in Mike Green, but you can never go wrong with adding more experience to the depth chart to bring along a highly-touted rookie. Trenton Simpson underwhelmed last season, so a veteran linebacker presence could offer him some mentorship, too, and be an insurance plan if Simpson continues to struggle. Advertisement Frankly, at a spot like pass rusher, you can always be happy with more. Especially on a team with Super Bowl aspirations like the Ravens. One name on the free agency market is a familiar one for Ravens fans: outside linebacker Matt Judon. A free agency contract to Judon, who was in Baltimore from 2016-2020, may not threaten a starting spot, but could offer more depth and a chance at spotty production to aid the starters with a breather. As Last Word On Sports writes, "the linebacker will sign at least with a contender, as he wants to head to a team that 'makes sense.' Baltimore fits that mold, and it's leg-up in familiarity could help its chances in joining the bidding war for the four-time Pro Bowler. Advertisement "... No one should rule out the idea of a reunion, as Judon isn't shutting the door on that," Writer Anthony Palacios said. "Between Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson, Judon could complete this package to add more firepower." He's coming off a down season in 2024, but Judon may still have the physical attributes to compete at a high level. He posted an impressive 15.5 sack total as recent as 2022 with the New England Patriots. Last season on the Atlanta Falcons, he totaled 5.5 sacks, 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss and the first interception of his nine-year career - it was returned for a touchdown. His best years may be behind him, but on a cheap homecoming deal, Judon could provide much-needed pass rush depth to the team that drafted him almost a decade ago in the Ravens. Advertisement Related: Ravens Coach Names Unlikely 'Centerpiece' of Defense Related: Ravens Making Case for Best Roster in Franchise History This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens who are (probably) next in line following Rashod Bateman's extension
You have to give the Baltimore Ravens credit, even if you're a fan of an AFC North rival. It's hard to name teams that draft better. They've rewritten some of the rulebook. The torch was officially passed from the great Ozzie Newsome to Eric DeCosta, and the machine continues churning. The organization remains in competent hands. The 2021-22 NFL season didn't quite turn out as we had hoped (an 8-9 record), but the dark cloud's silver lining was some new blood in what everyone hoped would be a stellar draft class. Four of the eight prospects taken are still on the roster. Fingers are still crossed for Ben Cleveland and Tylan Wallace. Things seem to be working out for the first two players taken. Good news came for Rashod Bateman on the fifth day of OTAs. It appears he's going to be sticking around for a while. Rashod Bateman signs his extension, and several other Ravens may be in line to earn theirs. Bateman and Odafe Oweh were the 27th and 31st players taken during the 2021 NFL Draft. Baltimore had a fifth-year option on the latter, but Rashod wasn't eligible because he started the 2023 season on the Did Not Report list. That meant he didn't have enough accrued seasons to be eligible. No worries... Baltimore determined they had seen enough and wanted to lock their young wide receiver down for the foreseeable future. He's been inked to an extension. His new deal covers three years and will pay him $36.75 million. Thanks to a three-year, $15 million extension he signed through the 2026 season on April 24, 2024, he's now eligible for free agency in 2030. He may have also opened the door for a few of his teammates to ink deals of their own. Here are a few who may be next in line after seeing Rashod earn his payday. Odafe Oweh, EDGE The Baltimore Ravens picked up Oweh's fifth-year option. That guarantees him a salary of $13.25 million for the 2025 season. The organization likes him, and this decision buys them a little time to work out a long-term deal. There isn't a rush now, but a new deal may come at some point. Isaiah Likely and/or Charlie Kolar, tight ends Mark Andrews needed some help at the tight end position, so the Ravens drafted Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely during the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They did so with picks 128 and 139, respectively. Time has flown by, and now both enter the final years of their rookie contracts. This is also a contract season for Andrews. It's doubtful that the Ravens will shell out big money for three tight ends. Perhaps they'll stick with the younger guys. Likely is the better receiver. Kolar is the better blocker. We'll see what happens. Travis Jones, interior defensive lineman Another member of the Ravens' 2022 draft class, Travis, a third-rounder, was the 76th player taken. That decision has also worked out well. More responsibility was added to his plate last season. He started 15 of the 17 regular-season games, both postseason games, and played respectably. The six-foot-four, 338-pounder has performed well as a stop-gap in the Ravens' defensive front. He turns 26 in October and still has some good football ahead of him. Tyler Linderbaum, center Are you noticing a theme here? You were warned that the Ravens draft well. How good has the 2022 class been? Tyler Linderbaum is the valedictorian and yet another example of how well Baltimore has stocked its roster with exceptional talent. After his first three seasons, Linderbaum already has two Pro Bowl nods on his resume. More are coming, and it wouldn't be right if those nominations weren't earned in Baltimore. It's time to lock this young man up. Patrick Ricard, fullback Baltimore is one of the few NFL teams still housing a fullback, and boy, do they have a great one. A Second-Team All-Pro in 2023 and a First-Team All-Pro in 2024, Patrick Ricard has been named to five Pro Bowl rosters. He's a Raven through and through, and most would love to see his tenure continue. Worth mentioning: Ar'Darius Washington The Ravens have a talented group of safeties, don't they? Kyle Hamilton is one of the best in the business. Malaki Starks is the 2025 first-round draftee. What does that mean for Ar'Darius Washington in the coming season? Baltimore shouldn't (and won't) break the bank for the third safety on the depth chart, but after seeing him perform well with new responsibility, a team-friendly deal might be the ammunition needed to start a conversation. Don't be shocked if Washington returns in 2026. Don't be shocked if he doesn't.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ravens' Odafe Oweh Gaining Weight Ahead of Contract Year
Ravens' Odafe Oweh Gaining Weight Ahead of Contract Year originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens have one of the league's elite rosters, and that's in large part due to a first-round hot streak in recent seasons. Between safety Kyle Hamilton, receiver Zay Flowers, center Tyler Linderbaum, and corner Nate Wiggins, there is no shortage of star power coming from the first day of the Ravens' recent drafts. Advertisement Among them is edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who hasn't quite reached the peaks of his peers but has promising talent nonetheless. Coming off a 10-sack season and entering a contract year, Oweh is emerging as a difference-maker along the edge for Baltimore. With that said, Oweh has been deployed in a one-dimensional role to this point. He's played nearly three times as many snaps against the pass as the run. Now, Oweh is aiming to close that gap. The Ravens' edge rusher is bulking up for a pivotal 2025 season, telling the team's website that he gained 20 pounds of muscle. "[It will help in stopping] the run," Oweh said to Ryan Mink and Justin Robertson. "And then obviously, the top of my rush, not being able to be pushed off the point, digging out the rip. And then obviously [with] power as well." Advertisement Becoming more powerful could be what takes Oweh to the next level. More mass makes him harder to move, but it also makes his speed even more of a weapon, making his speed-to-power that much more impactful. Oweh has a lot to gain from becoming a complete player. With free agency looming on the other side of his 2025 campaign, hitting the market on a good note, with elite athleticism and first-round pedigree to boot, he stands to cash in. Yet, Oweh claims he was motivated by his 2024 campaign. "I didn't have the outing I wanted, so I thought a lot of that had to do with my weight and being able to be stout in certain positions," Oweh said. "So, as soon as the season was done, I went to Miami, started eating, lifting and then gaining weight, basically." Coming off the best season of his career, Oweh has high hopes for 2025. With Baltimore gearing up for a deep playoff run, each step could prove impactful. The edge rusher joked that the progress didn't come without sacrifice. Advertisement "It actually wasn't good food. It was a lot of nasty meal prep. But it did the job." Related: Ravens' Henry Promised Adam Sandler Movie with 2,000-Yard Season Related: Former Ravens Kicker To Sell Baltimore-Area Home This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
