Cowboys To Sign DT Otito Ogbonnia

Ogbonnia just finished playing out his rookie contract with the Chargers. Across his four years in Los Angeles, the former fifth-round pick logged 20 starts. 17 of those came in 2024, a year in which Ogbonnia set a new career high with 37 tackles.

The 25-year-old will join a very crowded defensive front with the Cowboys. Osa Odighizuwa remains in the fold, as does Kenny Clark (whom the team acquired as part of the Micah Parsons blockbuster). Improving along the defensive interior remained a priority through the 2025 season, and Dallas acquired Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. Further additions have nevertheless been targeted early in the negotiating period.

To little surprise, the Cowboys have focused on the defensive side of the ball so far this week. Another notable trade agreement with the Packers – this time for edge rusher Rashan Gary – has been worked out. Dallas has also lined up free agent deals with safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. Improving at all three levels of the defense will be critical in avoiding a repeat of the 2025 season.

Ogbonnia will look to carve out a role as part of that effort. The UCLA product’s defensive snap share varied significantly during his time with the Bolts, and last season he only handed a 25% workload. It will be interesting to see how much new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker uses Ogbonnia in 2026. A strong showing in a rotational role could lead to a more lucrative pact next spring.