The San Francisco 49ers have made an effort this offseason to improve their defensive line and their ability to get to the QB. One of the moves that the Niners made was trading for Osa Odighizuwa.
Last season for the Dallas Cowboys, Odighizuwa played 691 snaps on defense, leading to a 65.9 overall PFF defensive grade. Odighizuwa generated 52 total pressures as a pass rusher, including three sacks, 29 hurries, and 20 hits. Moreover, against the run, Odighizuwa recorded 20 solo tackles.
Odighizuwa won’t have to wait long to face the team that traded him away this offseason, as the Niners and Cowboys will play on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium. On the May 19 edition of “The Richard Sherman Podcast,” Odighizuwa didn’t hold back on facing Dallas later this year.
“Speaking to the [49ers-Cowboys] rivalry, this is a game that for a long time I was, this is the game that I mean, it’s like you’ve got a picture on a dartboard and you’re throwing knives at it,” Odighizuwa told Sherman. “Now I just take down that picture and I put up the other one, and I’m on the other side of it, but the energy is exactly the same.”
Osa Odighizuwa on Getting Traded From the Cowboys
Moreover, Odighizuwa shared his thoughts with Sherman on how he felt after the Cowboys traded him to the Niners. Nonetheless, it didn’t come as a total surprise to the defensive lineman.
“I can’t say it was super unexpected because you read a bit of the writing on the wall,” Odighizuwa added. “I’m a very observant guy. So there were some telltale signs it was a possibility. But at the end of the day, I was just like, ‘I’m going to keep working, and if it happens, something happens. If it doesn’t, cool.’ I definitely have a mix of emotions.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m happy to be here. It’s a great team. I had a great time meeting my teammates and the coaches. I’m glad to be here working with everybody. It’s a great organization from top to bottom. I feel there is a winning mentality here.
Osa Odighizuwa Happy to Be With 49ers
No player is immune to getting traded in the NFL, and while Odighizuwa is happy to be in the Bay Area, the 27-year-old is glad that he landed with a playoff contender and not a team that’s rebuilding.
“It’s cool to be part of that and go from one good organization to another and be in a great space,” Odighizuwa said. “I feel like I’m part of the cavalry. I’m not coming to a place that is rebuilding anything. I’m just coming to add to a great team and a lot of great players already here. It’s kind of awesome.”
It will be interesting to see if Odighizuwa can be impactful on the 49ers’ pass rush, as the team struggled to sack the QB last season due to injuries to key players. If he plays a big role, then the Niners won’t regret trading a 2026 third-round pick for the defender.
49ers’ Osa Odighizuwa Makes Feelings Clear on Facing Cowboys