The Baltimore Ravens took a risk on edge defender David Ojabo in the 2022 NFL Draft, and they could trade him before they ever see that risk pay off. Selected in the second round, most evaluators believed Ojabo was a top-15 talent in his class before he tore his Achilles during Michigan’s Pro Day. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to contribute for a while, Baltimore selected him with the 45th-overall pick with the hope that he could be a key contributor in 2023 or 2024.
So far, that hasn’t happened. Ojabo has recorded just four sacks during his three years in the league and has never developed into anything more than a rotational player. Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Bleacher Report‘s Alex Ballentine names David Ojabo as one of the team’s top trade assets. With veterans Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh set to start and talented rookie Mike Green now on the roster, Ojabo doesn’t have a realistic chance to salvage his career in Baltimore, but perhaps a change of scenery could bring out the best in him.
Breaking: Ravens Could Trade David Ojabo Entering Contract Year
Possible Fits
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have two promising young edge rushers in second-round pick Nic Scourton and third-round selection Princely Umanmielen. While the youngsters hold plenty of promise of the future, they can’t do it all on their own. The Panthers still have one of the weakest edge defender depth charts in football, and they should invest in someone that could bolster the depth. David Ojabo should be able to earn a job on this depth chart, and the trade candidate could start if he recaptures even a portion of his pre-Achilles form.
Atlanta Falcons
Much like the Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons aggressively addressed the pass rush with two big-name rookies in Jalon Walker and James Pearce. With Michael Penix set to start for the duration of the season, the Falcons might have the luxury of rostering a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract. This team should go all-in to win a weak NFC South, and a trade for David Ojabo will only improve a pass rush that has been among the league’s worst for the better part of a decade.
Detroit Lions
Superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson will return to full strength in 2025, and while he will help the defense, he can’t do it all by himself. Losing former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets will likely make the defense worse, and Detroit must add some talent to offset that loss. David Ojabo isn’t a can’t-miss trade target by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s a fine low-risk, medium-reward acquisition that could make a difference for one of the league’s better rosters.
Washington Commanders
LSU’s Jayden Daniels looked like a star in the making as a rookie, and now Washington must go all-in on their Super Bowl window. David Ojabo won’t single-handedly fix this defense, but he could add more juice to a pass rushing unit that could use another player to get after the quarterback.
Main Photo: Denny Medley – Imagn Images
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