The Dallas Cowboys and standout defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa have agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract, chof360 Sports' Jori Epstein has confirmed.
ESPN and NFL Network first reported the news.
The contract includes $52 million in guaranteed money and a $20 million signing bonus.
The Cowboys said DT Osa Odighizuwa was a top priority in free agency. Now, they’ve agreed to a long-term deal to show it.
4 years, $80 million with $52 million in total guarantees, multiple sources confirm to @YahooSports. Stability at a longtime weak position for Dallas.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) March 4, 2025
Per NFL Network, the Cowboys intended to use the franchise tag valued at $25 million on Odighizuwa if the two sides hadn't reached a long-term agreement. Instead he has a long-term deal. News of the contract broke hours before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET franchise-tag deadline. Without a contract, Odighizuwa would have been one of the top defensive players on the market.
Odighizuwa, 26, was a bright spot on a defensive line that largely struggled last season. A disruptive force on the interior, Odighizuwa tallied 4.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hits and five tackles for loss in 17 games last season. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked fifth among defensive tackles with 60 quarterback pressures.
Signing Odighizuwa was a top priority in a high-stakes offseason in Dallas. The Cowboys fell from NFC champions in 2023 to 7-10 and out of the playoffs in a disappointing 2024 campaign and have several roster needs to fill. A defense that ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed will need to further improve on the interior around Odighizuwa.
The Cowboys are also approaching the end of star pass rusher Micah Parsons' rookie contract. Parsons is scheduled to play in the fifth-year option of his deal next season and is due an extension that could make him the highest-paid defender in football. 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa is currently the highest-paid defender in the NFL with an average annual salary of $34 million.
The anticipated negotiations with Parsons arrive after a 2024 offseason that saw the Cowboys sign quarterback Dak Prescott and All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb to long-term deals. In addition to the Parsons negotiations, the Cowboys also need upgrades at offensive line, running back and wide receiver behind Lamb.
Per Spotrac, the Cowboys are roughly $3 million over the salary cap. But they have multiple routes to open up significant cap space in order to address their needs.
