To get a better idea about the new interior pass rusher on the San Francisco 49ers, we reached out to RJ Ochoa from Blogging the Boys to help give us a better idea about Osa Odighizuwa.
Do you think the Cowboys had any buyer’s remorse, or was this as simple as Osa getting caught up in a numbers game?
The Cowboys found themselves pretty stuck. After trading Micah Parsons in the most inefficient manner possible, they were left with Kenny Clark in part of the wreckage. They really like him and want to keep him around, and the deadline deal for Quinnen Williams created a surplus at the position. This was pretty much
a matter of time since November.
Why should 49ers fans feel confident about this trade?
49ers fans should LOVE Osa. He is a high-motor, high-energy dude who does things the right way. He has been incredible for the Cowboys and has not gotten enough credit for their success (using that word loosely) in his time with the team. I’d offer that he’s the defensive tackle version of DeMarcus Lawrence, if that makes sense.
If this move doesn’t work out two years from now, it’ll be because __?
If we are here in 2028 and things haven’t worked out, I think it will simply be because of Osa being older. You can’t play at a physically high level forever. He’s been very healthy throughout his career, but that is one of those things where you are until you aren’t.
What is the most positive thing that Matt Ebeflus can hang his hat on during his Cowboys tenure?
Any positives from Matt Eberflus’ time with the Cowboys date back to his original stint when he was the team’s linebackers coach. He was instrumental in the growth and development of Sean Lee, which is why I personally was so interested in the hire last year. I’d offer that he deserves some grace because the Cowboys did the Cowboys thing and made things messy and toxic. Consider that Flus had the literal best player on his side of the ball traded away a week before the season began. He did himself no favors and was hellbent on going down his way, which is commendable on some level, but last year was a total disaster. There was no positive from it.
At any point during the previous 3 seasons, did it feel like Osa’s numbers were inflated, or was he genuinely as good as his stats suggest?
Osa is absolutely as good as his stats suggest. I’ve long said he would have been in the running for DROY and had a lot more national love if he hadn’t shared a draft class with Parsons. The Cowboys weren’t known for having legitimate defensive tackles for a long time. Ironically, now they have enough to deal with multiple away like it’s no big deal, and Osa was a huge part of turning that tide.
