Cowboys Expected to Use Franchise Tag on Possible Bengals Free Agent Target Osa Odighizuwa

CINCINNATI — The Dallas Cowboys plan to use the franchise tag defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa if they don't reach a long-term deal with him by Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Contract talks between the Cowboys and Odighizuwa have picked up in recent days, but with no deal in place, Dallas may have to use the tag to prevent the 26-year-old from getting to free agency.

If Dallas does tag him, it would take away a key piece of this year's free agent class. Odighizuwa is an ideal target for the Bengals in free agency. They desperately need to bolster their interior pass rush.

The Cowboys picked Odighizuwa in the third round (75th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft. He's considered one of the top defensive tackle in this year's free agent class alongside Milton Williams.

Dallas began the week negotiating with Odighizuwa's agent. If the Bengals were going to make a splash in free agency, it would likely be at defensive tackle.

Odighizuwa had 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season. He's played in 67 of 68 career games and started all 17 games in each of the past three seasons.

Sources; The #Cowboys plan to utilize the franchise tag on defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa if a long-term deal is not reached by Tuesday. No final decision but that is the current expectation.

The tag is projected at $25.1 million. pic.twitter.com/xVj4IK1f2z
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 2, 2025

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