Christian Parker made it clear in his introductory press conference that he will implement a 3-4 base defense, with some 4-3 and 4-2-5 mixed in, but it might not be an easy transition for one player the Dallas Cowboys invested a lot of money into last offseason.
Cowboys insider and former NFL scout Bryan Broaddus spoke with All-City DLLS about the concerns he has about Osa Odighizuwa playing in a 3-4 defense. Broaddus says Parker might put him in a position where he's not as comfortable relative to Dallas' previous defensive play-callers.
"I wonder (Odighizuwa) playing a 4i, inside of the tackle. He's so used to playing a 3, which is outside of the guards. You're scooting over there, that gap, and I wonder, his game is really about the quickness and about getting up the field, I wonder about his ability to play a gap and then get back, too. I think the power or lack of power in his game could be a little bit of a problem," Broaddus said.
Concerns about Osa Odighizuwa's fit in Cowboys DC Christian Parker's defense are overblown
Going up against guards instead of tackles is a drastic shift, but if anyone is built for that adjustment, it’s Odighizuwa. He’s already one of the Cowboys’ most reliable run defenders, a core piece of Jerry Jones’ latest mantra, and expanding his role across the defensive front could unlock another level of his game.
Odighizuwa has been pressuring guards, attacking the B-gap, and disrupting zone schemes since he arrived in Dallas. Sliding outside to take on offensive tackles, while still anchoring a gap against the run and affecting the passer, would be a significant adjustment.
Last season, the Cowboys struggled to generate pressure or impact games defensively under former coordinator Matt Eberflus. Odighizuwa, though, has quietly remained productive as a pass rusher in recent years.
The fifth-year man out of UCLA finished with 52 pressures in the 2025 season, which ranked sixth out of 134 at his position, according to Pro Football Focus. Odighizuwa also had a nice back-to-back stretch of pass-rush grades from PFF in 2023 and 2024, finishing at 78.0 or above in both of those seasons.
Given that Odighizuwa isn't the biggest interior defender, it's only natural that there are questions about his fit under Parker. The Cowboys' team website lists him at 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds. For context, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are 303 pounds and 314 pounds, respectively.
There’s merit to Broaddus’ point, but concerns about Odighizuwa’s fit feel overstated. He’s already proven capable of handling multiple roles along the defensive front. If Dallas wasn't confident he could thrive under different coordinators, it wouldn’t have committed $20 million per year to him.