Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
6 4 A P R I L 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State alums signed new con- tracts that were collectively worth more than $200 million in the days after the league's free agency period opened on March 9. The former Nittany Lion who received the biggest payday was edge rusher Odafe Oweh. After a strong finish to the 2025 season in which he totaled 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Char- gers after being traded by Baltimore in October, Oweh headed back east, sign- ing a four-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Commanders. The deal includes $68 million in guaranteed money, per NFL.com. "Once I got here, it was love," Oweh told The Athletic. "They really let me know how they saw me fitting on this defense, in terms of just being able to find those one-on-one matchups and being able to target those, and play fast, just play up the field. They let me know they were going to allow me to do that, and I was on board with that." Oweh will be entering his sixth NFL season in 2026. He's compiled 30.5 sacks to this point in his career. Of that total, 17.5 have been since 2024, a figure that ranks 19th in the league over that two-year span. The Ravens had started to sour on Oweh after choosing him in the first round of the 2021 draft with the 31st overall pick. He had played on only 45 percent of the team's defensive snaps before being traded to the Chargers. But at age 27, he still has plenty of upside, and he'll be joining a Commanders de- fense that will give him ample opportu- nity to chase quarterbacks. Last season, Washington suffered some key injuries in its edge-rusher corps and finished 28th in the league in pass defense, al- lowing 242.5 yards per game. Another former Nittany Lion who re- ceived a big contract was Connor Mc- Govern. The veteran interior lineman didn't need to change teams to earn a substantial payday in advance of his eighth year in the league. McGovern re-signed with the Buffalo Bills on a four-year, $52 million deal that includes $31.44 million in guaranteed money. "It's just been a whirlwind," Mc- Govern told the Bills' official website. "We're just happy to be back in Buffalo." McGovern will continue to snap to All-Pro Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen while playing for Joe Brady, the team's new head coach. Brady was a graduate assistant at Penn State in 2016 when McGovern was a true freshman starter for the Nittany Lions. Brady was promoted after the Bills fired Sean McDermott following a 33- 30 overtime loss to Denver in the divi- sional round of the AFC playoffs. While the coaching staff was undergoing an overhaul, McGovern knew he wanted to stay with the Bills, who have made the playoffs each of the past seven seasons. "I knew I loved it here," McGovern said. "I knew they loved me. They knew I loved it here. It was easy. It was one of those things we knew was going to happen at some time, but it was nice to finally put that pen to paper and make sure it's finalized. "It was craziness for a couple weeks there right after the season ended. But I think, overall, we're in a better spot. I think [Brady] brings a nice, new fresh breath of air. … He certainly brings the energy and fun." The next-biggest deal for a former Nittany Lion went to receiver Jahan Dotson. After two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, including a Super Bowl championship year in 2024, Dot- son signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons that includes $10 million in guaranteed money. "I feel like [Atlanta's scheme] tailors to my skill set specifically, being able to move inside, outside," said Dotson, Former Nittany Lions Cash In During Free Agency G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M PSU IN THE PROS Edge rusher Odafe Oweh finished strong in 2025, totaling 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Los Angeles Chargers. In March, he parlayed that performance into a four-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Commanders. PHOTO COURTESY WASHINGTON COMMANDERS