The franchise tag will not be needed in the case of Osa Odighizuwa. The fourth-year defensive tackle has reached agreement on a pact which will keep him in place with the Cowboys well beyond 2025.
Team and player have agreed to terms on a four-year, $80MM contract, per Odighizuwa’s agent. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds the deal contains $58MM in guarantees including a $20MM signing bonus. He will be on the books through 2028. The team has since announced the deal, one which Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes will include $22.25MM in compensation this year.
Contract talks were known to be ongoing in this situation, and Odighizuwa represented a logical priority for the Cowboys with respect to in-house players being retained. A long-term deal was a target for both parties, but this afternoon’s franchise tag deadline loomed as a key checkpoint. Dallas was prepared to use the tag to prevent Odighizuwa from hitting the market, but that will no longer be necessary.
Applying the tag would have come at a cost of $25.12MM, and the Cowboys would have been required to carry that figure on their cap sheet had no mult-year agreement been worked out. Odighizuwa had been connected to an asking price around $20MM, though, and today’s pact will allow for Dallas to meet it while also having the flexibility brought about by a long-term deal. At the age of 26, expectations will be high for continued production moving forward.
Odighizuwa handled a steady workload across his first three seasons, and his output remained consistent during that span. In 2024, the former third-rounder saw his playing time jump to 78% and he responded with new personal highs in a number of categories. Odighizuwa racked up 4.5 sacks, 33 pressures and 23 quarterback hits, a sign that further development as a disruptive interior presence could be coming in 2025 and beyond.
Between his age and his upside, the UCLA product was on course to be among the free agents on the market this spring. Odighizuwa was arguably the top defensive tackle option, a title which will likely now fall to the Eagles’ Milton Williams. The latter’s market will be increasingly interesting to monitor once the negotiating window opens next week now that Odighizuwa is no longer available.
The Cowboys’ front seven was a sore spot in 2024. The team ranked 29th against the run, so changes along the defensive interior and/or at the linebacker positions will be required for improvement to be seen. The scheme used by new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus relies heavily on having a disruptive three-technique, however, and with Odighizuwa’s future now assured the Cowboys will continue having that up front.
Dallas has former first-rounder Mazi Smith attached to his rookie contract, but the rest of the team’s DT depth chart could see changes this offseason. Veterans Carlos Watkins and Linval Joseph are pending free agents, and their departures would create the need for inexpensive replacements in free agency or the arrival of rookies during the draft. Given this investment, a lucrative deal elsewhere along the defensive front (where DeMarcus Lawrence and other edge rushers could soon depart) would come as a surprise.
The defensive tackle market has surged in recent years. 14 players at the position are attached to a contract averaging at least $21MM per season; Odighizuwa has not quite reached that mark but this deal represents a massive raise compared to his rookie pact. After taking less (in terms of annual earnings) than what one or two franchise tags would have paid out, his future for several years is now secure.
A win for mediocrity. YES! Jerry is champion for mediocre performers everywhere.
“All in again!’.
Stupid comment. This was a good deal and a cheap deal for someone they could not have replaced as cheaply or for a better player. He would have gotten 22 or 23 million a year on the open market. If you are to ignorant to know what you are talking about, then just do not say anything. The constant complaining from fans about teams is ridiculous.
They could have potentially replaced his production in draft instead of a $20 million cap hit. For a team that just signed a bad contact with their QB and about to extend their top defensive player, you have to pick and choose who to let go. Plus I think after 30 years Cowboys fans have the right to complain.
Yeah, right. They could’ve “potentially” replaced his production in the draft with an unproven player who may or may not produce. And they could pair that player with DT1 Mazi Smith who has yet to produce. That would match up nicely with DEs Kneeland and Williams who have yet to consistently produce. Defensive lines aren’t important, are they?
Not to mention that Washington would’ve been all over signing a free agent like Osa.
As for the draft, we could’ve added DT3 to the needs at DT1, RB, WR, RG, RT, DE, LB, CB, and S. You can’t rely on the draft to fill ten or more holes in the roster.
I thought they were already $2.85 million over the cap, where did they find room?
I believe you don’t have to be cap compliant until day 1 of the league year, so they have some time to restructure, cut, or extend guys.
This is one of those deals that is good for both sides. Osa is a shorter big body at 6’2 – 280 lbs that is a solid, durable player and run stopper. He might have made more money but 4 years, 80 million with 58 million guaranteed is a good contract for him and it’s actually below market value in my opinion. He will be 27 years old for the 2025 season and 30 at the end of his contract after the 2028 season which gives him the opportunity for another contract or extension provided he avoids injury. Not bad for a 3rd round pick from UCLA and somebody in the Dallas scouting department hit on a good one. He had a year of eligibility left but earned his degree and didn’t need his 5th year. He got quite a raise from his Rookie deal (4 years / 6.85 million) …he is set for minimum career earnings of 65 million and 86.85 million if he finishes this contract. I like to see young players that are grinders get rewarded for doing it the right way.