The Dallas Cowboys once again promised to have some fireworks this offseason. But as the NFL concludes its first week of free agency, Cowboys fans have been left holding a sleeve of Roman candles. The Cowboys’ shopping spree has continued to underwhelm fans after a 7-9-1 season, and it’s been more about who is leaving Dallas than who can make the team better next year.
One of the biggest head-scratchers was the trade that sent Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. Aside from trading a player who signed a four-year, $80 million contract extension one year ago, the Cowboys also strengthened a conference rival, making the odds of a rebound year more difficult.
But Jerry Jones revealed there could be benefits to moving Odighizuwa now as he discussed the trade with The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
“We needed to spread it around a little bit on what we have available to us with [the salary cap],” Jones said. “More importantly, we can put it in some places that probably get more mileage out of what it’s done. That’s not taking anything away from him individually, but we’ve got two outstanding football players [Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark] we have other backup players, plus we don’t want to rule out drafting a player. So, we thought that was the best move.”
Osa Odighizuwa’s Shocking Trade Could Have Long-Term Gains for Cowboys
Jones’s comments may elicit another eye roll from Cowboys fans, but he could be speaking the truth. Odighizuwa racked up 216 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks during his five years in Dallas, but the Cowboys may have overpaid to keep him around as he approached free agency last offseason. While he remained productive as a pass rusher with 52 total pressures on 420 pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus, he was a liability against the run with just 17 run stops last season, getting pushed down the depth chart after Clark and Williams were acquired in trades.
The argument could be made that keeping Odighizuwa would have been a better move than reaching a restructured agreement that helped Clark return to the team. But he became a rotational player in the wake of Williams’s acquisition and one that would be a luxury given his $16.75 million cap hit for this season, per Over The Cap.
By moving on, the Cowboys can lock in their starting duo of Clark and Williams for next season while also giving reps to backups Jay Toia and Adedayo Odeleye. Even if the Cowboys aren’t comfortable with their depth, Jones pointed out they could still add to it in the draft, where Dallas is armed with eight selections, including the No. 12 and No. 20 overall picks in the first round.
“We got the [third-round draft pick],” Jones told Machota. “[That pick] will be very helpful to us. And [that] also lets us put those resources that we’re going to spend there in other spots we need help.”
With George Pickens likely getting a big contract before the start of next season and the Cowboys still having needs at edge rusher and cornerback, re-allocating the money owed to Odighizuwa could be a smart, long-term move. While it won’t negate the disappointment of another dud of an offseason, it could open the door to more activity that could help Dallas in 2026 and beyond.