The Dallas Cowboys continued reshaping their defense Wednesday, trading away two defensive linemen in separate deals early in the offseason.
Dallas sent defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick (No. 92 overall). Shortly afterward, the Cowboys also dealt defensive lineman Solomon Thomas to the Tennessee Titans in a swap of 2026 seventh-round picks, reuniting Thomas with Titans coach Robert Saleh.
Both moves were later confirmed by the Cowboys.
The transactions come after Dallas already made a major addition to its pass rush by acquiring Rashan Gary earlier in the offseason, part of a sweeping effort to rebuild a defensive front that struggled last year.
Financially, the Cowboys will absorb about $750,000 in dead cap while clearing roughly $2.47 million in salary-cap space in the Thomas trade. Moving Odighizuwa creates a much larger benefit, freeing up about $16 million.
Thomas, 30, began his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 when Saleh served as the team’s defensive coordinator. After spending 2021 elsewhere, Thomas reunited with Saleh on the New York Jets in 2022 and remained there until Saleh’s dismissal during the 2024 season. Now the two will link up again in Tennessee.
Odighizuwa, however, is the bigger name moved by Dallas. The 27-year-old defensive tackle has been a key contributor for the Cowboys, appearing in 84 games (76 starts) and totaling 216 tackles and 17 sacks.
The trade represents a quick turnaround from last offseason, when Odighizuwa signed a four-year, $80 million extension with Dallas after reportedly taking less money than he could have received from the Washington Commanders.
But the Cowboys’ defensive line has undergone major changes since then. Dallas dealt star pass rusher Micah Parsons earlier in the year in a blockbuster trade that brought defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the team. The Cowboys also traded for Quinnen Williams at last season’s deadline and later added Otito Ogbonnia in free agency, leaving the interior line crowded.
For San Francisco, the deal helps address a major need. The 49ers finished last in the NFL with just 20 sacks last season and are looking to strengthen their interior pass rush. Odighizuwa, who has recorded 81 quarterback hits over five seasons, adds an experienced disruptor to the defensive front.
He joins a unit expected to feature the returning Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams as part of the defense under coordinator Raheem Morris.
Despite sending away a third-round pick, the 49ers still hold four selections in the fourth round of the 2026 draft, giving them flexibility if they decide to maneuver back into the third round later in the draft.
