The Washington Commanders pulled off a blockbuster move by agreeing to terms with edge rusher Odafe Oweh. And, according to reports, it's also complicated a bitter rival's chances of bolstering their defensive front.
Oweh's imminent arrival in Washington was well received by the fan base, though opinions varied across sections of the media. The Commanders had to get an explosive pass-rushing presence into the mix, especially after Jaelan Phillips went to the Carolina Panthers. This was always going to cost.
The four-year, $100 million deal with $68 million guaranteed is a calculated risk. Peters, head coach Dan Quinn, and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones are probably confident Oweh can thrive as a focal point, but it's a journey into the unknown.
Commanders soared the edge rusher market, and the Cowboys could miss out
With Oweh and Phillips getting bank-breaking money, the landscape across the league has shifted. This market explosion, as it pertains to edge rushers, won't be noticed by others looking for a payday. And Trey Hendrickson is the most accomplished on the market by a considerable margin.
Hendrickson has said goodbye to the Cincinnati Bengals. He's also looking to be paid handsomely elsewhere, with reports that his representatives are seeking $30 million per year. Nobody has met that so far, and it's also pricing out the Dallas Cowboys.
After initially showing a strong interest in Hendrickson, despite trading for Rashan Gary, Nick Harris from The Dallas Star Telegram believes the All-Pro is off the table for the Cowboys unless his demands come down. And the Commanders' willingness to pay Oweh above market value is a major reason.
"Don’t think anyone expected the EDGE market to explode how it did today. Not expecting Dallas to be major players for Trey Hendrickson at this point in time. A lot of others are off the board. Might be time to hunt in tier 2/3 for depth pieces and draft one."
CBS Sports national insider Jonathan Jones added that interested clubs are around $10 million per year apart from Hendrickson's agents right now. That's an alarming gap. But if players like Oweh and Phillips are getting massive deals, why shouldn't someone who led the NFL in sacks in two consecutive years?
As of this morning there were teams I spoke with who said the gap between what he wanted and what they were willing to pay was close to $10M per year https://t.co/9Yf1TRKEHc
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 10, 2026
It's a legitimate argument. Hendrickson is older and dealt with injury problems last season, but his credentials far exceed anything Oweh's accomplished. Even if it is for a couple more seasons, he wants the money to reflect his potential influence and previous accolades.
Nobody in Washington will be crying too much if their deal with Oweh made things impossible for the Cowboys to get something worked out with Hendrickson. Jerry Jones could go back in, but his stubbornness is renowned. Once there is a price in mind, he rarely goes above and beyond.
That means there could be an added benefit to bringing in Oweh on this sort of money when it's all said and done.