Report: Dallas Cowboys plan to use franchise tag on Osa Odighizuwa if deal isn't reached

The Dallas Cowboys plan to utilize their franchise tag on defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa if a long-term deal is not reached by Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Odighizuwa has spent four seasons with the Cowboys.

In the 2024 campaign, he recorded a career-high 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass deflection. Odighizuwa’s initial contract with the Cowboys was a four-year, $5,086,190 deal, according to Spotrac.

When a team uses their franchise tag on a player, they’re guaranteed to have the player for another season. However, they are also required to pay the player the average of the top five highest-paid players at the position for the season.

Fowler reported if the Cowboys use their franchise tag on Odighizuwa, they’d be projected to pay him $25.1 million. It’d be an exponential increase for the defensive standout.

Osa Odighizuwa will become a free agent on March 12 if he cannot agree to a new deal with the Cowboys. The organization has until March 4 to use their franchise tag on him.

Stephen A. Smith tears apart suggestion to trade Micah Parsons

During a recent episode of First Take, former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Chris Canty said the Dallas Cowboys need to trade star EDGE Micah Parsons. In turn, host Stephen A. Smith exploded on Canty, explaining why he believes trading Parsons would be a huge mistake.

“Micah Parsons is worth it,” Smith said. “That’s why. This brother’s big time. Make no mistake about it. And by the way, he’s not a culture shredder. He’s a culture builder as far as I’m concerned.”

Parsons’ future with the Cowboys is uncertain after reports emerged earlier this month claiming that the Cowboys have discussed moving on from the former Penn State standout instead of paying him $24 million for his fifth-year option in 2025.

However, Parsons’ impending payday wasn’t the only reason that Canty said the Cowboys should trade him. He also pointed to Parsons’ podcast, stating that the two-time First-Team All-Pro has made questionable comments about his team, including a moment when he didn’t list Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Stephen A. Smith vehemently defended Parsons’ comments.

“Let’s take into account what you said, Chris Canty, and [Micah Parsons] talking about Dak Prescott — so what?” Smith said. “That man’s getting paid $60 million, highest-paid quarterback in the league. And the brother’s got two playoff victories. Jalen Hurts has been in the league less. He’s got two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl championship.

“Jayden Daniels is a rookie, and he got to an NFC Championship game. We’re still waiting on Year 10 for Dak Prescott to get it in. Why the hell should Micah Parsons go out there and call him a top-five quarterback? Damn it, earn it.”