Jerry Jones seems incapable of learning from his mistakes. He repeats them over and over again, almost as if he enjoys doing so. On this occasion, the Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager finds himself under public scrutiny because of the move he made involving one of the team’s most reliable defensive players.
Jones is well known for making decisions that are difficult to understand. There are plenty of examples. Perhaps the most memorable came during the 2025 season, when he sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in a shocking deal that stunned fans and analysts alike.
Now, in the middle of the offseason, he has allowed another player to leave, one who had been among the few bright spots on the Cowboys’ defense throughout that same year. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been sent to a direct rival in the NFC.
In exchange, the Cowboys received a third-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, specifically the No. 92 overall pick. Jones explained the reasoning behind the move, although, as has become customary, very few observers were convinced by his justification.
As for the Cowboys, there is something amusing about their quest to improve at defensive tackle.”…”They used two massive trades – the Micah Parsons deal that netted them Kenny Clark and the acquisition of Quinnen Williams at the deadline – but are now opting to send away Odighizuwa, a good player and the youngest of the three.
ESPN analyst Seth Walder wrote in his article and added.
I would actually argue that they are trading the wrong player.
The numbers of Osa Odighizuwa with the Cowboys
This move is already being ranked as yet another decision by Jerry Jones that few people can truly understand. In the middle of a defensive rebuild in Dallas, letting go of a solid contributor does not appear to make much sense.
The defensive tackle joined the Cowboys in 2021, and during his time with the franchise, he produced the following statistics:
- Games played: 83 (79 as a starter)
- Total tackles: 172
- Solo tackles: 85
- Sacks: 17.5
- Tackles for loss (TFL): 34
- Quarterback hits: 81
- Passes defended: 6
- Forced fumbles: 1
Odighizuwa is three years younger than Clark and outperformed him in both win rates and run stop rate last season.”…”Last season, Odighizuwa’s pass rush win rate at defensive tackle ranked well ahead of Clark’s (62nd percentile). His pressure rate was higher, too, and Clark was well below average at run stop rate. And Clark costs almost $5 million more this year.
Added Walder.
While Odighizuwa may not be considered an elite defensive tackle, he was clearly a player who provided valuable support to the Cowboys’ defensive front. His combination of youth, production, and consistency made him a dependable presence on the line.
Now Dallas must search for a replacement, most likely through free agency or the upcoming draft. Whether that move ultimately strengthens the defense or becomes another controversial decision tied to Jerry Jones will only be determined once the next NFL season begins and the results start to unfold.
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