The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly fielding calls about a veteran captain on the defense.
The NFL world has been fixated on the trade market this week as a stunning development with edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens transpired on the eve of the new league year beginning.
Crosby failed his physical after being traded to the Ravens, leading Baltimore into getting cold feet and backing out on the agreement ahead of Wednesday afternoon when things can become official.
The Ravens turned around and signed free agent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a longer contract and for about the same amount of money they would've given Crosby. And, of course, Baltimore keeps its first-round picks in the two upcoming drafts.
The Dallas Cowboys were rumored to be interested in Crosby, then potentially Hendrickson, but instead have settled on their trade with the Green Bay Packers for defensive end Rashan Gary.
As the clock ticks toward a fresh calendar in the NFL, the Cowboys could remain a prominent name in trade conversations, but likely as a seller.
And our Mike Fisher is wondering if there is an unpublicized reason for it.
Reports claim that Dallas is receiving inquiries about defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. The four-year Cowboy was rumored to be a part of the proposed package for Crosby, along with a first and second round pick (Las Vegas was dead-set on two firsts, but are now "stuck" with Maxx again).
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram says the San Francisco 49ers are among the more frequent callers here about Osa.
Odighizuwa signed a four-year $80 million contract last offseason. He's been a regular starter in each season since he was taken in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of UCLA.
Entering Year 2 of his new deal, his contract has layers of escapability, and given how the Cowboys have two high-priced D-tackles in Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark also on the roster, this isn't a surprise for teams questioning if Dallas would move one of them. Dallas boss Jerry Jones also just struck a deal with reserve tackle Otito Ogbonnia in free agency.
Another reason why Osa's name is being brought up is that Jones has yet to restructure his current contract to make the 2026 payroll more flexible. The strategy has already been done on Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Terence Steele, Malik Hooker, and Clark's money.
It appears that Odighizuwa's contract is being purposely left alone in case he's moved in the next few days. Despite Crosby being back in Las Vegas and potentially on the trade block again, Dallas isn't expected to be a player in any reignited negotiations.
That, however, may not be the case in other trade talks.
As the Star-Telegram's Nick Harris notes, the San Francisco interest may not be a coincidence. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has been hired by Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers as an assistant head coach of defense going into 2026.
If Odighizuwa were to be traded before June 1, the Cowboys would generate about $4.75 million in cap space.
But is there something else going on? Fish wonders if there might be a "Cowboys conflict'' here, not about the money, but about Osa's happiness with his role in the new system.
Fish writes: "Are the Cowboys unhappy with Osa? Is he unhappy here? With the scheme? Something else? Stay tuned …''
Osa as a 3-tech a year ago? He was the lead guy there.
Now? Quinnen Williams, acquired by trade last November, is the better player and maybe pegged to be the big-stat pass-rusher inside.
Is that enough to lead to "unhappiness''?
Osa is the longest-tenured Cowboy on the defensive line, but whether or not new coordinator Christian Parker has a solid home for him in his new scheme could dictate Dallas' movement.
