Cowboys Bolster Draft Capital with Trades of Odighizuwa and Thomas

The Dallas Cowboys have strategically reconfigured their draft portfolio, trading defensive tackles Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas in separate deals. These moves, completed on March 11, 2026, netted the Cowboys additional draft picks as they navigate the NFL League Year.

Trades Details

Osa Odighizuwa was sent to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a third-round pick (92nd overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Solomon Thomas heads to the Tennessee Titans in a swap of seventh-round selections, with the Cowboys moving from pick No. 225 to No. 218.

Cowboys’ Draft Position

These transactions increase the Cowboys’ total draft picks to eight, including three selections within the top 100 and two compensatory fifth-round picks. Prior to the trades, Dallas held picks No. 12 and No. 20 in the first round, but lacked a Day 2 pick after previously trading away second and third-round selections for Quinnen Williams and George Pickens.

Strategic Implications

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones prioritized regaining a Day 2 pick. The acquisition of the 92nd overall pick provides the team with flexibility to potentially move up in the draft or package the pick with others to acquire further assets.

The Cowboys have experienced mixed results with second-round picks in recent years, and Jones indicated a shift in strategy away from taking risks on players with injury histories or character concerns. The third round has proven more fruitful, with Cooper Beebe (2023) establishing himself as a starting center and DeMarvion Overshown (2023) showing promise at linebacker, though his development has been hampered by injuries.

Looking Ahead

Dallas is hopeful that last year’s Day 2 selections, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Shavon Revel, will emerge as starters in 2026. Ezeiruaku, recovering from offseason hip surgery, will transition to outside linebacker in the team’s new 3-4 defensive scheme. Revel has also recovered from a knee surgery and played in seven games.

Cowboys 2026 Draft Picks

• First Round: No. 12
• First Round: No. 20
• Third Round: No. 92
• Fourth Round: No. 112
• Fifth Round: No. 152
• Fifth Round: No. 177
• Fifth Round: No. 180 (Comp pick)
• Seventh Round: No. 218

Source: DallasCowboys.com