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By Jason Fray
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The San Francisco 49ers reportedly acquired Dallas Cowboys DT Osa Odighizuwa on Wednesday afternoon.
In exchange for the 27-year-old defensive tackle, the Cowboys will receive a 2026 third-round pick. It also allows for Dallas to shed a considerable amount of salary. Prior to the beginning of last year, the UCLA product inked a four-year deal worth $80 million ($39 million guaranteed at the time of signing and $52 million guaranteed overall).
San Francisco has been quite busy throughout the offseason. There's been a real emphasis on improving depth up front on both sides of the ball. Brett Toth (Philadelphia Eagles) and Vederian Lowe (New England Patriots) were added to the offensive line room.
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Odighizuwa immediately enters the fold as a real pass-rushing option for new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Over the past five years for Dallas, Odighizuwa has quietly been one of the more underrated interior linemen in the NFL. He's notched 17 sacks and 34 TFL during this period. With a game predicated on quickness and leverage, Odighizuwa is adept at using strong hands to dislodge offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage.
According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Odighizuwa has accrued the second-most pressures in the league since 2024 when double-teamed. Many of the advanced analytics tell the story of a player with terrific short-area quickness en route to the backfield.
San Francisco's roster dealt with a considerable amount of volatility last year. This was especially the case up front — with Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both suffering season-ending injuries. It understandably caused an adverse impact on the defense. The 49ers ranked dead last in the NFL with only 20 sacks on the entire season.
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Odighizuwa now provides San Francisco with a different look at obvious passing situations. He very brilliantly fits up front, presumably next to Williams, with Bosa and Bryce Huff on the edges. If the 49ers wanted to operate with more of a run-stuffing front, Alfred Collins and CJ West return as a very stable interior duo.
Without question, this move makes San Francisco deeper and more versatile up front. More than anything, it also allows for San Francisco to be more of a Super Bowl threat in 2026.
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