49ers' Osa Odighizuwa eager have 'handcuffs taken off' with new team
The San Francisco 49ers beefed up their roster with several splash signings throughout the offseason . Those included signing All-Pro receiver Mike Evans and bringing back linebacker Dre Greenlaw . The 49ers also traded for defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, sending a 2026 third-round draft pick (No. 92 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange. Odighizuwa, 27, spent five seasons with the Cowboys after being selected 75th overall in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In that span, he's piled up 216 tackles, 17 sacks and two forced fumbles. He expressed his excitement to play for the Niners during a podcast appearance with former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman , a former Seahawk and 49er. "I just kind of like the way we've installed the things that we're doing, the identity that these kind of established, and we're establishing as we're going about this, and you know, I'm excited," Odighizuwa told Sherman. "I feel like getting some handcuffs taken off of me a little bit, to be able to be able to kind of have one of the better years that I've had against the run, if not best year that I've had. I'm looking forward to just being able to make plays within this scheme." OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) But it's more than making plays. Odighizuwa believes there's a real shot at the biggest trophy in football – The Lombardi. He wants to help the Niners win a Super Bowl. "(I) definitely want to make the deep playoff run, bro, and get to the dance. I want to get that ring for sure," Odighizuwa said. "Being on a team that's been in two of the last (seven Super Bowls) is very hopeful going into the playoffs. I think they made it to the second round of the playoffs with a bunch of guys hurt, you know what I mean." Along with his desire to bring a chip to the Bay Area, Odighizuwa has goals to prove that he's better than what he's displayed in the first five years of his career in the NFL. "For the past five years I haven't scratched the surface of the player that I am, you know what I mean? It hasn't been put on full display, so I just plan on putting that on display," Odighizuwa said. The NFL season for San Francisco kicks off on Sept. 10, when they travel to Melbourne, Australia to play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Osa Odighizuwa eager to make impact with San Francisco 49ers