It's been an eventful free agency period for the Washington Commanders, who have beefed up their defense in a major way. But one move elsewhere around the league didn't go unnoticed.
The San Francisco 49ers traded for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who signed a four-year deal worth $80 million to stay with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2021 last offseason. And according to reports, he had suitors.
Odighizuwa was a top target for Adam Peters and Dan Quinn, who had been Dallas' defensive coordinator during his first three seasons. But he chose to stay with the Cowboys rather than join the Commanders. Now, he might be regretting that decision.
Cowboys' disloyalty to Osa Odighizuwa feels like a slap in the face for the Commanders
According to Jane Slater of the NFL Network, the invaluable defensive lineman took significantly less money last season than the Commanders had offered him before Peters ultimately overpaid for Javon Kinlaw. Odighizuwa was evidently planning to be in Dallas for a long time, as he had even built himself a new home.
The kick in the pants for Osa here is the Commanders offered far more money last year but Osa wanted to stay in Dallas and took significantly less to do it.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 11, 2026
He also just built a new house. pic.twitter.com/du4GtZE9VQ
But business is business.
Odighizuwa was sent to the Niners after only one season of his deal, in exchange for a third-round pick. Hopefully, the chance to compete for Super Bowls, something he wasn't going to have in Dallas, makes up for what had to have felt like a punch to the gut.
It should also make him wish he'd chosen the Commanders, who surely weren't going to offload him that way. As proven by Peters' moves since free agency began, Washington has needed all the help it can get on the defensive line.
Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu will all add value to the edge position this year, but the interior remains thin. The Commanders desperately need to hope Kinlaw can turn his narrative around. If Daron Payne is here to stay, Washington will be demanding motivated football again under Daronte Jones.
Odighizuwa, one of the best pressure generators at his position despite his unremarkable sack totals, could have done volumes to make a difference for the Commanders last season. At the very least, he'd have been worth every penny, unlike the player Peters ended up signing instead.
It does no one any good to dwell on the past. But given how Odighizuwa's decision to re-sign with the Cowboys turned out, it's clear it would have worked out better for both sides had he chosen Washington.