Frisco shockwaves! Cowboys ship unhappy Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers, reshaping their defensive front.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys audience and 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's 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.
But as we told you earlier on Wednesday afternoon, there might be another D-line shoe to drop.
And now the Cowboys have traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers for what we're told is a third-round pick.
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).
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, 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.
Dallas also just struck a deal with reserve tackle Otito Ogbonnia in free agency this week.
But there is a bigger issue here, and it's not money, though Odighizuwa being traded can help with $4.75 million of cap space.
There is a "Cowboys conflict'' here, and it's about Osa's happiness and fit with his role in the new system.
We said early Wednesday: "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 was the longest-tenured Cowboy on the defensive line, but new coordinator Christian Parker may not have had a happy home for him in his new scheme.
And so Osa is going to the Bay.