The first big pending unrestricted free agent is now off the board. DT Osa Odighizuwa and the Dallas Cowboys have reportedly agreed to a four-year contract worth $80 million with $58 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter. Details of the guarantee structure were not immediately available; however, the initial reports state Odighizuwa received a $20 million signing bonus.

The contract will place Odighizuwa as the 15th highest-paid interior defensive line, in terms of APY with the 9th largest total guarantee package. Odighizuwa, 3rd round draft pick in 2021 for Dallas, finished the 2024 season with 60 quarterback pressures including 7 sacks.

This contract sets a good parameter for other pending free-agent defensive tackles such as Milton Williams of Philadelphia.

*Update* Todd Archer with ESPN Dallas reports the total guarantee is worth $52 million. 2025 cap charge to be $6,117,000 for Odighizuwa. Details will be posted once confirmation is received.

Cincinnati Bengals announced the release of veteran offensive lineman Alex Cappa this morning. This move will create $7.16 million in net cap savings (under the Top 51 rules) and save the team $8.0 million in cash for the 2025 league year.

Cincinnati is preparing the team’s cash and cap sheet for the future to accommodate upcoming player extensions for WR Ja’Marr Chase and ED Trey Hendrickson along with a potential second franchise tag for WR Tee Higgins.

News this morning out of the Washington Commanders organization with the team granting DL Jonathan Allen‘s request to seek a trade. Allen has, reportedly, been on the potential trade block during the last two seasons after a strong performance in 2021 and 2022. Allen is due $17 million in cash for the 2025 season as part of the last year of his player contract.

In 2024 Washington invested in Daron Payne with a 4-year $90 million contract, and the team also invested a 2nd round draft pick on Johnny Newton.

Allen requesting a trade would logically mean that Washington is not willing to extend his current contract or that the two sides cannot agree on the numbers for an extension. Any team that trades for Allen should be prepared to complete a contract extension immediately after the trade is completed.

Most teams will likely wait for Washington to release Allen, and then attempt to sign him to a favorable contract as a street free agent. This path will lead to a lower-value contract.

With an incoming strong draft class of defensive linemen, Allen may have difficulty finding a trade partner for Washington.

After 11 years of NFL football, manning the right guard position for the Dallas Cowboys, Zack Martin has informed the team of his intentions to retire. Martin, a potential hall of famer, will finish his career with 7 AP First Team All-Pro and 9 Pro Bowl selections.

News from Todd Archer of ESPN:

In August 2023, the two sides agreed to a revised 2-year contract worth $36.85 million, including a $5.8 million signing bonus. The contract was structured around a potential Post-June 1 Designation out in 2025. The contract included four void years for salary cap purposes.

With Martin informing the team of his retirement plans, the Cowboys will now release Martin on March 12th or 13th with the Post June 1 Designation. This will keep Martin’s salary cap charge, $10.655 million, on the team’s salary cap until June 2nd. Once processed, the Cowboys will take on a $9.4 million dead money cap charge in 2025, creating $1.255 million in cap savings. Additionally, the team will take on a $17.06 million dead money cap charge in 2026.

Pittsburgh Steelers announced the release of veteran edge rusher Preston Smith, saving the team $13.4 million in both cap and cash for the 2025 league year. Pittsburgh traded for Smith from the Green Bay Packers during the 2024 season for a 2025 7th-round draft pick. However, the Steelers did not see much return in value in the acquisition of Smith, ultimately keeping him inactive the final two games of the season. The release will give Pittsburgh over $52 million in available cap space heading into free agency.

Minnesota Vikings announced the release of former all-pro linebacker Eric Kendricks.

The release will create $9.5 million in cap & cash savings for the team as free agency is one week away. The Vikings now are estimated with $15 million over the cap heading towards the league year. Additional roster moves or restructures will be needed for the team to cap compliant by March 15.