Cowboys' disruptive tackle Osa Odighizuwa joins the 49ers, bolstering their defensive line with a proven pass rusher and run stopper.
The San Francisco 49ers made a major move to strengthen their defensive front this week, acquiring defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
According to Jordan Schultz, San Francisco is sending one of its third-round selections to Dallas to complete the trade. The move comes after reports earlier in the week indicated that the 49ers had reached out to the Cowboys about the availability of Odighizuwa as they looked to upgrade their defensive line.
The trade reflects one of San Francisco’s biggest priorities this offseason. After an inconsistent 2025 campaign in the trenches, the 49ers were widely expected to pursue help along the interior defensive line.
Odighizuwa, 27, has been a key contributor for Dallas since entering the league as a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of UCLA. The defensive tackle quickly developed into a reliable presence in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense.
During the 2025 season, Odighizuwa appeared in all 17 games and made 13 starts. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 28 assists, 3.5 sacks, and 23 quarterback hits while helping anchor Dallas’ defensive front.
His impact has often been most noticeable as a pass rusher. Odighizuwa recorded 52 pressures in 2025 and earned a 71.5 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus. In previous seasons, his pass rush production was even stronger, earning grades of 78.5 in 2024 and 78.7 in 2023 while generating 60 pressures during the 2024 campaign.
Over the course of five NFL seasons, Odighizuwa has appeared in 84 games with 76 starts. In that span, he has totaled 216 tackles, 17 sacks, and 34 tackles for loss, along with 81 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.
The 49ers are taking on the remainder of Odighizuwa’s contract as part of the trade. According to Spotrac, he is scheduled to carry a salary cap hit of approximately $16.75 million in 2026, followed by cap numbers of $20.5 million in both 2027 and 2028.
While the financial commitment is notable, the 49ers clearly believe the veteran defensive tackle can make an immediate impact alongside their existing defensive front.
With the move, San Francisco now holds six selections in the 2026 NFL Draft after sending the third-round pick to Dallas. Even with fewer picks, the team gains a proven interior defender who can generate pressure and help stabilize the defensive line.
For a team looking to remain among the contenders, adding a disruptive interior presence like Odighizuwa could be one of the most important roster moves of the offseason.