The Cowboys won't be letting Osa Odighizuwa hit free agency.
Dallas is expected to apply the non-exclusive franchise tag to the defensive tackle ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, Odighizuwa's agent told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The tag is set at $25.1 million for DTs.
Despite in-depth talks on a long-term extension prior to the franchise tag deadline on Tuesday, the Cowboys are going with their next-best option of tagging Odighizuwa as a placeholder for a deal. Dallas and Odighizuwa's reps have until July 15 to agree to a long-term extension now.
A third-round pick in 2021, Odighizuwa notched career highs in sacks (4.5), QB hits (23) and tackles (47) in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract, and the 26-year-old has been a reliable presence in the trenches after starting all 17 games in each of the past three seasons.
Odighizuwa was ranked No. 7 overall on Gregg Rosenthal's Top 101 Free Agents list and as the second-best DT option behind Milton Williams.
Instead of letting their ascending defensive lineman hit the open market, the Cowboys will retain Odighizuwa to prevent a potential mass exodus on their defensive front. Longtime standout Demarcus Lawrence, Carlos Watkins, Linval Joseph and Chauncey Golston are among the Cowboys defensive linemen set to hit free agency when the new league year begins on March 12.
Getting Odighizuwa under contract is the first step toward Dallas being "selectively aggressive" this offseason, as co-owner and COO Stephen Jones put it on Feb. 24.
