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Osa Odighizuwa

Cowboys, Osa Odighizuwa Agree To Deal

March 8th, 2025 at 7:07am CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 7: Odihizuwa will receive $52MM guaranteed in total, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. The blossoming DT’s first two base salaries are guaranteed at signing, with Archer adding $13MM of his 2027 base salary ($20MM) shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the ’27 league year.

In terms of fully guaranteed money, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio sets that number at $39MM. Odihizuwa’s total guarantee number sits 11th among D-tackles; his full guarantee places 14th.

MARCH 3: 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.

Cowboys Prepared To Tag Osa Odighizuwa; DeMarcus Lawrence Hopes To Re-Sign

March 2nd, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Micah Parsons‘ pending mega-extension is a key talking point related to the Cowboys’ offseason. The team has other pressing matters in the front seven, though, as free agency approaches.

DeMarcus Lawrence has spent his entire career with Dallas, including the past four as Parsons’ running mate along the edge. The four-time Pro Bowler is on track to reach the open market, and a departure would allow the Cowboys to transition to a younger core in the pass-rush department. Lawrence is aware he could explore other opportunities as a free agent, but his preference would be to remain in place.

“The ball is in their court. I’m not only going to play in Dallas,” the 11-year veteran said (via Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). “I’m going to have other options, but I’d like to stay here. It would be a glorious thing. My family is here. I love it here. The fans love me here.”

Lawrence played on the franchise tag in 2018, and was tagged again the following year before a five-year deal was worked out. A three-year pact signed in 2022 ensured the former second-rounder would continue with the Cowboys, and Lawrence did not miss a game over the first two campaigns of that stretch. In 2024, though, he was limited to only four contests; that missed time could hinder his market value.

At a minimum, Lawrence’s comments confirm he intends to continue his career in 2025. Entering his age-33 season, the Cowboys were recently reported to be waiting to see how he would proceed. It will be interesting to see if Dallas matches the Boise State product’s desire to work out another new pact. In addition to Parsons (who could soon become the league’s highest-paid defender), the Cowboys’ depth chart along the edge includes recent draftees Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland.

Stephen Jones has made it clear talks on a deal preventing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from reaching free agency. Talks are ongoing, and reaching agreement on a pact would give the Cowboys clarity along the D-line before the start of the new league year. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes progress has been made recently, and the DT market would lose arguably its most impactful member in the event talks reached the finish line shortly.

Failing that, Fowler’s colleague Dan Graziano notes the franchise tag could come into play. Using the tag in 2025 would result in a one-year guarantee of $25.12MM in Odighizuwa’s case – a massive raise compared to his rookie deal. The top of the position’s market has surged in recent years, and at the age of 26 the former third-rounder will be in position to command a lucrative long-term deal with Dallas or an outside suitor. Using the tag (a decision which must be made by Tuesday afternoon) would give the Cowboys until mid-July to negotiate a multi-year Odighizuwa pact. Fowler’s latest update on the situation confirms the Cowboys are indeed prepared to use the tag in this case.

Dallas’ list of in-house priorities also includes the likes of slot corner Jourdan Lewis and running back Rico Dowdle. As the team weighs its options on those fronts, Lawrence and Odighizuwa will remain names to watch closely over the coming days.

Cowboys, Micah Parsons Begin Negotiations; Latest On Osa Odighizuwa’s Asking Price

March 2nd, 2025 at 7:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

After taking their time on CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions last year — to the point the ultra-rare game-day deal came to pass before Week 1 (with Prescott) — the Cowboys are at least starting the Micah Parsons process.

As of last week, the sides were not talking. They are now, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins, who describes these as general discussions. They will pertain to a monster extension, as Parsons joins a few edge rushers in the running to alter the position’s financial landscape this offseason.

Parsons has said he hopes an extension will be in place by training camp, later communicating there is a plan in place between he and the team regarding his second contract. This came after Parsons indicated in December he wanted a deal before free agency. That seems almost certain not to happen, as the Cowboys regularly hammer out their top extensions — save for the first Prescott re-up, which featured a franchise tag deadline — late in the summer.

Parsons joins T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson in contract years, with Myles Garrett squarely on the extension radar — with the Browns or another team, depending on how his trade saga ends — despite two seasons remaining on his deal. Parsons has said he expects to the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. Other edge rushers will be in the mix for that title, as will Ja’Marr Chase.

Trade rumblings have come out on Parsons, who would fetch more than Garrett would due to his age (26 in May). Jerry Jones did his best to refute those, but a report last month had the Cowboys at least discussing the matter internally. As the Cowboys have Prescott and Lamb tied to top-market deals, a third landmark payday would restrict their ability to round out a roster. Dallas deciding to trade the youngest of their top trio would be an interesting move, as Parsons is probably the team’s best player. For now, the conversation will center on an extension, rather than a seismic swap.

Beginning his career with three All-Pro nods, Parsons is one of the NFL’s premier players. He will command a deal north of Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year accord. The cap has climbed by $55MM since the Bosa deal came to pass. With Garrett, Watt and Hendrickson also in play for new contracts, this market being topped by a $40MM-AAV pact will not be out of the question come Week 1. The Cowboys are currently low on cap space, holding barely $3MM. They also will face a $26.4MM Zack Martin dead money bill from his retirement, though the future Hall of Fame guard could work with the team — as Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox did the Eagles — to help save money via a post-June 1 transaction.

The Cowboys have a while on Parsons, but they are running out of time with Osa Odighizuwa. The ascending D-tackle has been in talks with the team on a second contract for weeks, and he is poised to be one of this year’s top free agents. As such, Watkins views $20MM per year as a floor for the four-year starter. Odighizuwa and Milton Williams are expected to fetch big contracts on this year’s DT market, but the Cowboys could buy more time by franchise-tagging their free agent-to-be. Of course, that would require maneuvering to create cap space, as it would cost $25.12MM for the team to tag Odighizuwa. The Cowboys have used the tag in six of the past seven years.

Unable to break through to snap their NFC championship game drought — now the NFC’s longest — with Parsons and Odighizuwa on rookie contracts, the Cowboys will now see their roster become more expensive. They have until 3pm CT March 4 to tag Odighizuwa and until 11am March 10 to conduct exclusive negotiations.

Stephen Jones: Cowboys Will Be “Selectively Aggressive” This Offseason

February 24th, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys are hoping to steal headlines this offseason, but the team is making it clear that they won’t force any moves. While speaking with reporters at the combine today, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters that his team will be “selectively aggressive” when it comes to transactions.

[RELATED: Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa]

“Obviously, our goals historically have been to try to fill as many of our musts and needs before the draft so you can pick the best player on your board,” Stephen Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “Didn’t get that totally accomplished last year, but certainly that’s always the goal. And every year is different in terms of what those musts and needs are, and then you also have to marry what’s in free agency vs. where the draft is heavy and where we can help ourselves in the draft.”

The Cowboys’ 2024 season ended in disappointment and change, as the team moved on from Mike McCarthy after failing to make the playoffs. Part of the team’s lack of success was due to Dak Prescott‘s season-ending hamstring injury, although the Cowboys were only 3-5 in their quarterback’s eight starts.

There’s clearly work to do if the Cowboys hope to return to the postseason. The team has holes on both sides of the ball, and while they’ll find a few options via the draft, they’ll be reliant on some newcomers to be productive. That could require the front office to pony up, and it seems like they could be willing…to an extent.

Further, similar to last year, the Cowboys will also be focused on extending their star players. After inking Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to new deals, the team’s now motivated to sign pass rusher Micah Parsons to a new pact. We’ve heard the Cowboys have also talked to defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa‘s camp about a new deal, and the team has a long list of additional players who are set to hit free agency.

Therefore, when Jones says his team will be “selectively aggressive,” it could come in many forms. While fans would naturally like to see a big splash via free agency or trade, the team’s notable moves may be more in-house. Still, Jones wasn’t shy about exploring every possible route to improve the Cowboys.

“We’re going to look at everything we can,” Jones said (via Archer). “You have a certain amount of resources they allow you to have. But we’re going to try to improve our football team. Not try. We’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success [this] year.”

Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa; Team Hopes To Retain Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle

February 24th, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the Cowboys’ offseason will center on the Micah Parsons extension situation. The team has other priorities as the new league year approaches, though, and that includes talks with a number of pending free agents.

One of those is Osa Odighizuwa. The former third-rounder is currently set to be one of the top defensive tackles in free agency, but there is still time for the Cowboys to work out a deal preventing him from reaching the market. COO Stephen Jones recently made it clear talks have begun on a second contract for Odighizuwa.

“We have had negotiations with Osa,” Jones revealed during an interview with David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.”

The 26-year-old has started all but four of his 67 career games, collecting 13.5 sacks to date. Improving against the run is a key need for the Cowboys this offseason, and multiple changes in the front seven could be in store as a result. With the chance of a departure to Washington (and thus a reunion with Dan Quinn) looming, it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached before the start of the new league year in March.

As for other roster priorities, Jones noted the Cowboys also hope to retain slot corner Jourdan Lewis and lead running back Rico Dowdle. Lewis has spent his entire eight-year career in Dallas, playing out his rookie contract, a three-year deal worth an average of $4.5MM per year and the less lucrative one-year accord signed last March to keep him in place. Approaching his age-30 season, Dallas could make another short-term commitment while DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs remain perimeter starters.

The Cowboys opted for a committee approach early in the 2024 season in particular, and it did not go according to plan. The shift in approach later in the year allowed Dowdle to surpass 1,000 rushing yards while handling by far the heaviest workload of his career, though, something which could help his market value. Dallas ranked 27th on the ground last year, and improving in that department could involve selecting a running back in April’s draft, one which is viewed as being deep at the position. Re-signing Dowdle would nevertheless allow for backfield continuity and at least provide the team with an experienced backup.

Jones added the Cowboys are awaiting a decision from defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on his future. The 33-year-old was limited to just four games last year and is a pending free agent. Lawrence received the franchise tag twice, and his career earnings also include the five- and three-year Cowboys pacts he has played on. After seeing that fellow 2014 draftee Zack Martin intends to retire, Lawrence could do the same; taking that path would leave Dallas in need of at least a depth addition along the edge.

As for Parsons, Jones declined to give a firm timeline on when negotiations for his pending mega-extension will begin. He did say, though, that talks will pick up over the coming weeks as the team navigates the lead-in to free agency while preparing for the draft. Parsons has a case to become the league’s highest-paid defensive player, but before a deal reaching (or approaching) that mark is worked out the Cowboys will look to attain clarity on how their 2025 roster shapes up at several positions.

Commanders Preparing Aggressive Pursuit Of Defensive Additions

February 10th, 2025 at 4:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Led by the stellar play of Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, the Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC title game. The team’s defense was a sore spot during the campaign, though, and it is understandably a point of focus for the offseason.

[RELATED: Myles Garrett Discusses Potential Fit With Commanders]

Washington can be expected to be aggressive in pursuing upgrades on defense, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes. That comes as little surprise, given the fact Daniels will be attached to his rookie contract through 2027 (with a fifth-year option possible for the following campaign). Making major financial commitments will be much more feasible now than the period where he will be on an extension as long as he cements his status as a franchise passer.

The Commanders reset on defense midway through last season by dealing away edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline. The arrival of new head coach Dan Quinn brought about several new faces on that side of the ball, many of whom were familiar to him stemming from his time as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Washington was active ahead of the 2024 deadline by acquiring Pro Bowl corner Marson Lattimore from the Saints.

The Commanders outbid multiple suitors to acquire the 28-year-old, although injuries limited him to only five appearances with his new team. Lattimore struggled in coverage during the playoffs in particular, but well before that point it was clear the team intended to keep him in the fold via a revised deal. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is set to carry a cap hit of $18MM in 2025 with a projected $18.5MM figure the following year; none of his scheduled base salaries are guaranteed for that stretch. An extension could lower his cap charges while providing a new round of locked in compensation.

Even if Lattimore is retained, the secondary will be an area of focus for Washington this spring. On that note, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes Commanders general manager Adam Peters was a strong advocate for the 49ers drafting safety Talanoa Hufanga in 2021 (subscription required). Peters was a member of San Francisco’s front office at the time, so Hufanga – one of the 49ers’ top pending free agents – would be a logical target if he were to prioritize familiar players in March.

With respect to the defensive line, Osa Odighizuwa could be a name to watch. The 26-year-old has spent his first four years as a Cowboy, so he has experience playing under Quinn in Dallas. Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler writes Odighizuwa is viewed by teams as the top interior defender in the 2025 free agent class, so he could generate a strong market beyond the Commanders. Washington has Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen under contract, though, and the team invested a second-round pick in Jer’Zhan Newton last April. Still, if the Commanders were to target Odighizuwa next month, he could become the latest ex-Cowboy to head to the nation’s capital.

Washington currently sits third in the NFL in projected 2025 cap space, so finances will not be an issue while Peters and Co. look to upgrade a defense which ranked 18th in points allowed and struggled against the run this past season. It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Commanders are this spring as they look to build off the success witnessed during Daniels’ debut campaign.

DL Notes: Donald, Jones, Young, Cowboys

September 1st, 2023 at 12:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams moving on from a wave of defensive starters this offseason could soon call Aaron Donald‘s status into question. No notable Donald trade noise has circulated just yet, but with the Rams retooling, those would not surprise. Donald’s landmark extension runs through 2024, but the guarantees on that $31.7MM-per-year deal end this year. Donald’s contract includes a no-trade clause, but it does not look like he will prioritize his hometown Steelers — either via trade or a potential free agency run. While the Pittsburgh alum may not necessarily rule out a stint with his hometown team, NBC Sports’ Peter King notes the all-time great does not have such a move as a priority. The Rams must decide on Donald’s 2024 status by Day 5 of the 2024 league year, when $30MM becomes guaranteed.

Donald, 32, threatened to retire last year but secured a landmark raise. The 10th-year veteran was not closely connected to retirement plans this offseason. Here is the latest from the D-line scene:

  • Chase Young is on the verge of returning to full-time duty, after a 2021 ACL tear and patellar tendon rupture sidetracked the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s career. But the fourth-year Commanders defensive end is recovering from another issue. As a result of a stinger sustained in the first preseason game, The Athletic’s Ben Standig notes Young has not received full clearance to return and is not a lock to be available in Week 1 (subscription required). Young has not practiced fully in more than two weeks; he was expected to meet with a doctor this week. The Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option in May, putting him in a contract year along with Montez Sweat.
  • Chris Jones‘ holdout has extended past the one-month mark, and while fines have piled up, the disgruntled D-tackle has indicated he would be willing to push this hiatus toward the midseason point. Jones reporting only to pick up an accrued season would certainly harm the Chiefs, who have relied on their dominant interior D-lineman for years. On that note, GM Brett Veach said (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams) the sides have increased communication this week. Jones would accumulate nearly $10MM in total fines — from training camp fines and missed game checks — were he to sit out until Week 8. Andy Reid said Friday he has not been given any indication Jones will be back in time for Kansas City’s Thursday-night opener. Jones wants Donald-level money; the Chiefs are looking to pay him closer to the second tier of DT deals that formed this offseason. Quinnen Williams‘ $24MM-AAV deal tops that contingent.
  • The Cowboys appear to be planning to work in first-round Mazi Smith slowly. The Michigan product is expected to be a rotational player to begin his career, with The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf noting Johnathan Hankins and Osa Odighizuwa are likely to be team’s defensive tackle starters in Week 1. Smith, however, will obviously be expected to move into the starting lineup early in his career.
  • Joseph Ossai‘s status for the Bengals‘ opener is up in the air due to a high ankle sprain, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes. The third-year defensive end is unlikely to suit up against the Browns, per Conway. While Ossai has shown some promise, injuries have continued to intervene. The 2021 third-round pick missed his entire rookie year and, after playing through a torn labrum late last year, underwent offseason surgery. The Bengals are deeper at D-end now, having drafted Myles Murphy in Round 1 to join Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/22/21

December 22nd, 2021 at 6:22pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances (including Christian McCaffrey and Travis Etienne), players activated from the list remain on IR:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Placed on list: T Le’Raven Clark

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID List Updates

December 18th, 2021 at 7:37pm CST by Zachary Links

We are trying our best here at Pro Football Rumors to keep up with all of the updates throughout the league concerning players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A lot of teams had high hopes during today’s testing as they were trying to get players activated in time for Sunday’s slate of games.

Here are updates as of 8:30 PM ET, Sat 12/18:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Eddie Goldman
  • OC Bill Lazor, DC Sean Desai, STC Chris Tabor in COVID-19 protocols

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB P.J. Locke

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Four Coaches in COVID-19 protocols

New York Giants

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

Cowboys To Sign Osa Odighizuwa

June 11th, 2021 at 11:43am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have signed third-round defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News). With the UCLA product in the fold, the Cowboys now have just two unsigned draft picks to go.

Odighizuwa, the younger brother of former Giants defender Owa Odighizuwa, comes with four years of collegiate seasoning. And, for the last three years, he’s served as a starter for the Bruins. Even in a pandemic-shortened season, the 6’2″, 280-pound lineman managed to shine. In seven games, Odighizuwa notched six tackles for loss, four sacks, and 30 total stops. In total, he’s got 37 appearances to his credit with 120 tackles, 27.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.

The Cowboys’ defense could certainly use the help and new DC Dan Quinn is a big believer in Odighizuwa’s ability. Currently, he projects to be the first DT off of the bench, behind starters Carlos Watkins and Trysten Hill. Sixth-round pick Quinton Bohanna also figures to be in the mix.

Bohanna, Odighizuwa, and the majority of the Cowboys’ draftees are now taken care of. Two of their third-rounders — defensive lineman Chauncey Golston and cornerback Nahshon Wright — remain as the last stragglers.