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CBS Sports didn’t give the Dallas Cowboys impressive grades for their two defensive lineman trades Wednesday, including the Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Dallas Cowboys made two more trades at the official start of the new league year Wednesday. In the span of 10 minutes, the Cowboys dealt two defensive linemen, Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers, and Solomon Thomas to the Tennessee Titans.
CBS Sports analysts argued neither move was a particularly good one from Dallas’s perspective.
CBS Sports’s Garrett Podell was critical of the Cowboys trading away Odighizuwa. Podell gave Dallas a C-plus grade for the move.
“The Cowboys traded away a player under 30 on a productive contract to restock their draft capital and to reset their cap space. Moving Clark would have netted a lower return, but it probably would have made more sense for them to do that and then draft a bigger defensive tackle,” wrote Podell.
“Dallas made this move out of desperation, and while Clark’s body is a better fit, Odighizuwa is a better player long term at this stage of their respective careers.”
The Cowboys traded Odighizuwa after he started 76 games over five years in Dallas. The former third-round pick immediately started as a rookie.
Odighizuwa’s contract also doesn’t expire until 2029.
Podell gave the 49ers a B-plus grade for acquiring Odighizuwa.
Cowboys Receive C-Plus for Osa Odighizuwa Trade
While he’s been a solid starter, nothing jumps off the stat sheet for Odighizuwa. He’s posted 23 quarterback hits each of the past two campaigns. But he hasn’t eclipsed nine tackles for loss or 4.5 sacks in any season.
Odighizuwa has never made the Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team either.
Still, Podell was highly complimentary of the new 49ers defensive tackle because of his pressure rate.
“Despite not having any Pro Bowl selections, Odighizuwa has been one of the NFL’s best at getting after the quarterback the last two seasons. His 112 quarterback pressures are the third-most at the defensive tackle position since 2024 behind only Zach Allen’s 148 and Chris Jones‘ 137,” Podell wrote. “At 6-feet-2-inches tall and weighing 280 pounds, Parker and owner/general Jerry Jones made the decision that he was the odd man out.
Odighizuwa signed a 4-year, $80 million extension to stay with the Cowboys after his rookie deal expired. So, he’s making $20 million per season.
At $20 million each year, most teams would probably prefer more than 3-4 sacks. But from a pressure standpoint at defensive tackle, Odighizuwa has been one of the top options around the league.
The Cowboys recouped the third-round pick they lost to acquire George Pickens last May. But Podell made it clear he would rather than Odighizuwa.
Cowboys Get Barely Passing Grade for Solomon Thomas Deal
While Podell was critical of the Cowboys trading Odighizuwa, CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani actually gave the team a worst grade for dealing Thomas.
The Cowboys received a C for that move. Dajani seemed rather unmoved about the deal one way or the other.
“The Cowboys neither clear cap space nor acquire draft capital with this move,” Dajani wrote. “Dallas has Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and free-agent addition Otito Ogbonnia to play on the inside of the defensive line, while the coaching staff clearly did not view Thomas as an important depth piece.”
In the deal for Thomas, the Cowboys merely flipped draft picks with the Titans. They will now make a selection on Day 3 a little earlier.
Also with the trade, Dallas cleared under $2 million in cap space.
If the Cowboys didn’t want Thomas anyway, at least they got something in return for him. But the return does little to move the needle.
Thomas had 27 combined tackles, including three tackles for loss in 16 games last season. He also had two quarterbacks hits, one pass defense and zero sacks.
In Tennessee, he will reunite with his former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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