Cowboys Trade DT Osa Odighizuwa to 49ers for 3rd-Round Pick

Dallas makes roster move after failed pursuit of Raiders' Maxx Crosby

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:04am

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The Dallas Cowboys have traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick. The move comes after the Cowboys were unable to acquire star pass rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. Dallas is looking to reshape its defensive roster after a disappointing 2025 season.

Why it matters

The Cowboys are aggressively pursuing defensive upgrades this offseason after finishing 30th in the NFL in total defense last season. The trade of Odighizuwa, who was signed to a lucrative extension just last year, shows Dallas is willing to make tough roster decisions to free up salary cap space and acquire draft capital to continue rebuilding its defense.

The details

The Cowboys had been linked to a potential trade for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, but that deal fell through. With Crosby off the table, Dallas instead traded Odighizuwa, a 2021 third-round pick, to the 49ers in exchange for a 2026 third-round selection. Odighizuwa had been a consistent contributor for the Cowboys, starting every game over the past three seasons and recording 216 total tackles and 17 sacks in his five-year career.

  • The Cowboys traded Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • Dallas had been in talks to acquire Maxx Crosby from the Raiders earlier this offseason.

The players

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys who is leading the team's aggressive offseason defensive rebuild.

Osa Odighizuwa

A defensive tackle who the Cowboys traded to the 49ers after signing him to a lucrative extension just last year.

Maxx Crosby

The star pass rusher the Cowboys were pursuing in a trade from the Raiders before the deal fell through.

Kenny Clark

The veteran defensive tackle the Cowboys acquired in a trade to bolster their defensive line.

Quinnen Williams

The Cowboys' other standout defensive tackle who is expected to command a major contract extension.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to be aggressive in our pursuit of defensive talent this offseason. Osa was a valuable contributor, but we have to make tough decisions to put the best possible team on the field.”

— Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys

What’s next

The Cowboys will look to use the 2026 third-round pick acquired in the Odighizuwa trade to further bolster their defense through the draft or potentially package it in a larger trade.

The takeaway

Dallas' willingness to trade away a player they just extended shows the team's urgency to improve its defense after a disappointing 2025 season. The Cowboys are not afraid to make bold roster moves as they aggressively reshape their team this offseason.