The Dallas Cowboys have announced a deal that lets them keep a key piece on their defensive line just before what should be a hectic free agency period.
According to multiple reports, the Cowboys were able to keep defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa on a deal worth $80million over the course of four years.
Per Spotrac, Odighizuwa will get a $20m signing bonus in addition to his current contract. Per ESPN, of his $80m he’s set to earn, $58m is guaranteed.
The Cowboys were expected to use the franchise tag on Odighizuwa if they weren’t able to get a deal done today. The tag would have cost the team $25.1million.
It’s a top move for the Cowboys amidst plenty of noise this offseason – including the hiring of a coach many didn’t expect following a sub-par 2024 campaign.
By average annual salary, Odighizuwa now ranks in the top-15 highest-paid interior defensive linemen in the league, according to OverTheCap.com.
‘He’s a homegrown guy who we think is a really good football player,’ executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week at the NFL scouting combine, according to ESPN.
The signing comes after the Cowboys missed the playoffs with a 7-10 record and made the controversial decision to promote offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach.
Odighizuwa was set to be one of the top available free agents to hit the market this offseason prior to the extension coming through.
Dallas has spent plenty of money on players they drafted in the past few seasons – including deals for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Now, the Cowboys will be tasked with putting together a package to try to keep star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Last season, Odighizuwa tallied 47 tackles and four-and-a-half sacks for the Cowboys. He finished the season tied for fifth in sacks for the team.
Odighizuwa has been in the league for four seasons since being taken with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of UCLA.
Across his career, entirely with Dallas, he has racked up a total of 172 tackles, 13-and-a-half sacks, and two forced fumbles.
