The San Francisco 49ers likely never had a chance to land free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who ultimately signed with the Baltimore Ravens. And the Niners probably weren't going to be front-runners for the Las Vegas Raiders' Maxx Crosby either.
That said, general manager John Lynch didn't hesitate to pull off one of his own blockbusters to reinforce what was an underwhelming defensive line last season, executing a trade with the Dallas Cowboys for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
News of the transaction was first reported by Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz:
BREAKING: The #Cowboys are trading DT Osa Odighizuwa to the #49ers, multiple sources tell me.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 11, 2026
The disruptive Odighizuwa had 17 sacks, 34 TFLs and 2 forced fumbles during his tenure in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/e9YmbXZXrC
It's a major move for a San Francisco defense that not only finished 2025 with a league-low 20 sacks but also lost defensive coordinator Robert Saleh at the season's conclusion, replacing him with Raheem Morris.
Now, Morris has a versatile toy on the defensive line who had 17 sacks over his five-year tenure out in Dallas. And while the stats aren't necessarily the ones that jump off the page, there's little doubting how much of a presence he can be in terms of collapsing pockets.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, the 49ers are acquiring Odighizuwa for their third-round pick in this April's NFL Draft.
Odighizuwa, 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, figures to slide right inside the interior of the Niners D-line as a day-one starter, likely lining up alongside second-year pro Alfred Collins on base downs while sitting next to 2025 rookie Mykel Williams on third down.
Either way, San Francisco's new defensive tackle should provide a massive boost to a D-line that sorely needed help over the course of last season.