The Dallas Cowboys have made a huge move ahead of free agency, locking down defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal, with $58 million guaranteed.
It’s the first of two big deals the Cowboys are expected to get done this offseason, with elite pass rusher Micah Parsons in line for a huge payday as well.
Osa Odighizuwa Extends Deal in Dallas
With free agency looming, time was running out for the Cowboys to agree on terms with Odighizuwa, who was set to be one of the top available players at his position this offseason. News of the agreement was broken by NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
The #Cowboys and standout DL Osa Odighizuwa have agreed to terms on a 4-year, $80M deal, per me and @MikeGarafolo, with $58M guaranteed.
One of the top tackles in the market, Odighizuwa stays in Dallas on a deal done by agent Sam Leaf of @BallengeeGroup. pic.twitter.com/CGGQTiGGE5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025
Top defensive tackles cost a lot of money in the NFL, and after the impact that Jalen Carter had on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2024, that number has only gone up.
Odighizuwa isn’t at Carter’s level, but the Cowboys would have been loath to lose such a valuable defensive piece, especially after watching their bitter rivals parade the Lombardi Trophy around Philadelphia.
What Has Dallas Paid for with Odighizuwa’s Contract?
Ranking at number 42 in PFSN’s Top 100 2025 Free Agents list, it’s understandable that Cowboys fans would be concerned with the numbers involved in this deal. But Odighizuwa has been a solid contributor to the team in recent years, specializing in the pass rush.
And as long as the deal doesn’t affect the Cowboys’ ability to lock down Micah Parsons, it should prove to be money well spent. As Rapoport explains below, the structuring of the deal actually gives the team better value than they would have gotten from franchise tagging Odighizuwa.
The contract saves Dallas around $5 million in 2025, while two franchise tags would cost almost as much as the player’s $58 million in total guarantees.
From our breaking news segment: The #Cowboys planned to franchise tag DT Osa Odighizuwa if they didn't get a deal by today at 4 pm. Instead, Dallas does a deal that averages far less than the tag, locking in a key part of their defense. pic.twitter.com/X8NkRl7o8f
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025
Odighizuwa had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 2024 as he started all 17 games for the third consecutive season. He also averaged a career-high 48 snaps per game after averaging almost exactly 35 snaps each of his first three seasons with the Cowboys.
Odighizuwa is a pass-rushing defensive tackle, as he’s listed at 280 pounds and only made a tackle on 11.2% of his run defense snaps in 2024.
However, he recorded a 12.3% pressure rate, which was the sixth-best out of 50 defensive tackles with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps. He was even better in 2023 with a 13.2% pressure rate.
Odighizuwa turns 27 in August and is now set to spend his prime years in Dallas. The Cowboys have pieces to add this offseason, but securing long-term deals for those already in the building has been a priority for the franchise in recent years. The deal for Odighizuwa continues that trend.