Osa Odighizuwa
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Osa Odighizuwa #97 of the Dallas Cowboys enters the stadium prior to a game against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of a game at SoFi Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears could have a chance to upgrade at a crucial position of need, and it involves trading for Dallas Cowboys star defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
According to CBS Sports Jonathan Jones, teams believe Odighizuwa “could be traded for” and are keeping an eye on what Dallas may do with him.
“Teams are keeping an eye on what Dallas may do with Osa Odighizuwa, sources say. The Cowboys signed him to a 4-year, $80M contract last year, and teams believe he can now be traded for.”
If that’s the case, the Bears have a chance to trade for a player who will be an immediate upgrade at one of the most important positions in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme.
Bears Should Trade for Cowboys Star DT Osa Odighizuwa
It was rumored that the Cowboys included Odighizuwa, along with a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick, for Maxx Crosby.
The reason why I bring this up is that, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini, the Cowboys are “not expected to re-engage in Maxx Crosby trade discussions.” Cowboys insider Jane Slater also added that a source told her Dallas has moved on with Rashan Gary, for whom the team traded a fourth-round pick.
The Bears trading for Crosby is a whole other topic; Regardless, it definitely looks like the Cowboys are open to the idea of trading Odighizuwa, especially now that they have Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
He’s still just 27 years old and has already racked up 216 total tackles, 17 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 84 career games with the Cowboys. Plus, Odighizuwa has also played in all 17 games since 2022.
Last season, Odighizuwa had 44 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and ranked 6th among qualified defensive linemen in total pressures with 52.
The cherry on top is that his four-year, $80 million deal he signed last offseason is a steal, considering he’s currently the 16th highest-paid DT in terms of annual salary. At just $20M per year, the Bears should be all over this.
Projected Trade and More on Odighizuwa
It’s unclear as of now what the Cowboys would want in return for Odighizuwa.
Factoring in his age, performance, and contract, a personal guess would be a 2026 second-round pick. The Cowboys will probably start by asking for a first-round pick, which is unfortunate but would still be an intriguing option nonetheless.
Now, Odighizuwa is not on the same level as Quinnen Williams, but he fits what the Bears are looking for at defensive tackle and could be a game-changing move for general manager Ryan Poles on defense.
Back when Micah Parsons was on the Cowboys, he had some major praise for Odighizuwa, saying, “When I see Osa in the weight room, I don’t go anywhere near Osa. I let him do what he likes to do. Every time I go in there, Osa’s got some heavy weight going. I’m not lifting no heavy weight. I stay away from him. Every time you look at him, he’s in like a full drench sweat and he’s in prime mode. So that’s Osa’s work ethic, who he is, and he hasn’t changed from it since the day he got here.”
Even with the recent signings of defensive tackles Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street, that shouldn’t stop Poles from checking in on a potential trade for Odighizuwa.