Cowboys' Updated Salary Cap After Osa Odighizuwa's $80M Contract Ahead of Free Agency

The Dallas Cowboys retained one of their top defensive players before the start of free agency.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that the Cowboys reached an agreement with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa on a four-year, $80 million contract that includes $58 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus.

Odighizuwa's new deal will be added to a Dallas salary cap that currently stands at $303.7 million, per Spotrac.

Retaining a homegrown talent like Odighizuwa is sure to be received positively in Dallas, as Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz noted that the 26-year-old "is loved in the Cowboys’ locker room." However, some pointed out that it's another big-money commitment for Dallas in an offseason where it's already expected that star edge rusher Micah Parsons will receive a bank-breaking deal.

A third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Odighizuwa has started all 17 games for the Cowboys in each of the last three seasons. He recorded career highs of 47 total tackles and 4.5 sacks while adding a forced fumble and a pass deflection in 2024.

After a quiet offseason last year, Dallas is expected to be more active this time around as it tries to bounce back from a disappointing 7-10 finish. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said last month that the team is "gonna be selectively aggressive" in its approach to free agency. The team will also have the chance to add a top prospect with the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

It's clear that the Cowboys will have some work to do to improve their salary cap health heading into the 2025 season, but retaining Odighizuwa is a step in the right direction.