The Cowboys may use the franchise tag on defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa if they are unable to reach a long-term agreement on a new contract by Tuesday.
The decision was not final, but it was in the direction that was expected to move forward. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Sunday.
The predicted franchise tag value will be $25.1 million, and NFL teams will have to place the tag on players who are pending free agents until 4pm on Tuesday.
Odighizuwa just filmed the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, and the Cowboys are trying to lock him up in a new long-term contract.
If the Cowboys choose to use the franchise tag, they can enter into a long-term contract until July 15th.
If nothing happens by then, the Cowboys can only sign Odighizuwa on a one-year contract, and he will become a free agent next offseason.
The Cowboys chose Odighizuwa in the third round of UCLA in the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 67 straight games.
The defensive tackle ran an impressive 2024 campaign by recording a career-high 4.5 sacks, 47 tackles, five loss tackles, one forced fumble and one pass deflection.
Over the course of his four years in the NFL, Odighizuwa created 172 tackles and 13.5 sacks.
The Cowboys have not looked at the franchise tag since 2023 when they decided to use it by running through Tony Pollard.
Dallas Morning News It has been reported Odighizuwa could have been seeking a deal somewhere in the $20 million range per season.
