Todd Archer on Why 49ers Traded for Osa Odighizuwa

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All right, yeah, hey, man, if us quoting Max Crosby

gets us Marvin Gaye rejoins all day, I'm all in.

Make it a Marvin Gaye Thursday, buddy.

Make it a Marvin Gaye Thursday.

I'm in.

We just won. We just won.

We just won Thursday, by the way.

All right, Todd Archer knows what he's talking about.

Sky's been covering the Cowboys in the NFL for a long, long time.

And at ESPN.com, he and Nick Wagner

wrote about the big trade of Osha Odigizua,

the outstanding Cowboys detackled to the 49ers for a third round pick.

How did this trade go down?

Why did it go down? Let's talk about it.

Todd, welcome to the Merphin Marcus Show.

Brian Murphy, Marcus Boucher, 49er flagship out here in San Francisco.

How you doing this fine Thursday, Todd?

Hey, Morning, Todd.

Doing all right. How are you guys?

We're good, man. We're good.

We're, uh, we're, you know, intrigued.

The Niners needed D-line help and they got a good one.

We think, uh, I went to UCLA. I watched them play.

I liked them there.

I think Cowboys fans liked him in Dallas.

Tell us about Osha Odigizua as a Cowboy.

How did he play?

Yeah, it was a good player for the five years who was here.

You know, did he benefit some from having Michael Parsons

for a little bit of that one?

Yes, he did. They all did.

But he was a guy was, was there every Sunday?

I don't know if he missed a game in his career now,

but I'm thinking of it, um, and, you know, 12 months ago,

the Cowboys gave him a 20 million dollar a year contract

and he did as a cornerstone piece to their defense.

What changed?

The scheme changed.

And it, they didn't view him as a fit

the way that obviously they picked them,

quit in Williams last year.

They picked up Kenny Clark.

So they decided to move on from him

he was in on the Max Crosby talks

when the Cowboys were involved with the Raiders and that deal.

And they got a third round pick that they didn't have

from last year's trade for George Picking.

So this is probably the best outcome the Cowboys could have expected.

And it's a good start for, or a good restart for Osha to go out there

in a scheme that he will have familiarity with.

Todd, you mentioned that the 49ers are sending to Dallas Cowboys

a third round draft pick.

So how do you feel about the draft compensation for Osha?

Well, you always want more, right?

If you're a Cowboys fan, you're thinking you're trading one of your best players.

If you want more, but I think it's fair.

Like I said, the Cowboys didn't have that third round pick.

They don't have a second round pick either.

So they were trying to get as many picks as they could.

They're in the top 100 with this one.

And it gives them some, the ability to move around.

If they want to go up with one of those first round picks,

or to go down and maybe accumulate some more picks.

So they're in a decent position for what they can do in the draft.

The problem for the Cowboys is what they've not done yet in free agency.

They have no linebackers.

Well, they have some linebackers.

They don't have enough linebackers, I guess.

It's a better way of saying it.

They need cornerback help and they still need edge pressure help.

So even with the Richon Gary trade, they still need edge pressure help.

So this is probably a trade of convenience for the Cowboys.

When you factor in, they had Kenny Clark.

They had Quinten Williams.

You can't have $320 million defensive tackles in a three-four scheme.

It's kind of funny.

I mean, the Cowboys, an overload of detacles is something the 49ers

can only dream of.

It's such an empty cupboard.

So this is a huge pickup for the 49ers to stock some talent on that

long alongside some young guys like Mike L Williams and CJ West and Alfred Collins.

So they all drafted last year, which leads me to Oh, so Diggy Zua,

kind of the veteran.

You know, the Niners signed Mike Evans earlier in the free agency period and

everybody said, well, he's going to mentor these young receivers.

Is Oh, Diggy Zua also that kind of presence in the locker room?

Like, how was his character slash team guy reputation?

Oh, great.

Yeah, I mean, he was voted a team captain last year.

It's the first time that he handled that role.

He's not a like hugely raw, raw kind of guy,

but he's the guy who's going to work his butt off every single day.

And if young guys are smart, they look at him and they follow him and they do it.

He does that.

That's how I would say he leads more than, like I said,

being the guy who's going to be the out front emotional leader.

Now, when when when March on Neal and tragedy passed away,

midway through the season,

Oh, so was one of the guys that kind of galvanized the team.

He was the guy that made sure he brought out the March on Neal and flag

to to the game back into the locker room after the games.

He made sure the jurors he was on the bench or outside the bench.

So he is a very much a team guy and, you know, Brian Trottenheimer talked about

building a great culture and wanted to have that kind of feeling inside the locker room.

And also was one of the big parts of that.

Oh, Diggie Zooell profiles more of a past rushing defensive tackle.

Todd, what can you tell us about his all-around game?

Is this a guy that can play all three downs and can contribute in the run game as well?

Yeah, he's not.

It was funny when I was reading Nick's story and he was talking about the story we wrote,

but we were reading Nick's part of it with the stats.

I'm also I'm like, I guess he is a past rushing defensive tackle because

I've viewed him more as like an overall guy and look, he's not the biggest dude in the world,

but he's a solid 285 pounds or whatever they lift him at.

I would, yeah, 285.

You know, but he's not a plugger type defensive guy,

but that's not what that scheme is about anyway.

He can play, he's definitely a three-down guy.

You probably need to though it's monitor his stats and make sure he's not

playing 80, 80% of the stats all the time.

He's probably a guy who's better in that 70, 75 range and making sure he's fresh for a full game.

Pretty good stuff.

From Todd Archer, who knows what he's talking about,

and covering the Cowboys for a long time for ESPN.com.

And the 49ers trade a third round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for Osa,

O'Diggie Zooell, filling a big need.

Dallas gets a pick.

They needed back Todd though, you know, around the league,

beyond this move, the Max Crosby Raven story is the big, big one.

And the Cowboys sort of play a somewhat tangential role in that.

I just wanted to get whatever you had on that.

Like A, you know, from what you heard,

how serious were the Cowboys in on the original trade?

Sort of B, wasn't their team doctor somehow involved in the MRI?

Could you straighten that out if you know?

And then C, the possibility of the Cowboys getting back in.

I'll go in reverse order.

It doesn't sound like the Cowboys are going to get back into a Max Crosby deal.

I think everybody that reached out to them after that trade fell apart

got the same text back and said they will not be re-engaging.

Everybody had the same word, so everybody was reaching out to the same person,

which is kind of funny when you think about it.

So I would be surprised if they were going to go there.

Yes, Dr. Cooper was involved in the process of examining the MRI and things like that.

One of the most renowned knee specialists in the NFL,

probably worldwide, with all the people that come to him from various sports to get their knees fixed.

So he was involved.

I would guess the Cowboys would know what Dr. Cooper thinks and where that knee is and what the

process is. And then what was the first part?

Oh, yes, they were involved in that trade.

There are probably some people at the star who thought they were going to land Max Crosby

a week ago with what the Cowboys offered.

They offered their first round pick, number 12.

O'Diggy Zoo was involved in that trade and I think the sweetener was their second round pick

that they appeared to be pretty of been willing to give up.

So the Raiders took two first round picks as opposed to the package the Cowboys had.

If that trade did go down with the Cowboys,

I don't think you would have seen the Cowboys back off and had a failed physical designation.

Hmm, interesting.

Now, it's all it.

They weren't.

I apologize.

It wasn't designated to fail physical, but I don't think you would have seen the Cowboys back off the trade.

When you really need care, you need 24-7 access to a care team, not a maze of paperwork

from a third party.

Every day, America's hospitals and health systems show up for you.

Navigating healthcare can fuel overwhelming,

but you can count on real doctors, real nurses, real people,

providing quality around the clock care when you need it most.

They're in your corner, in communities across America,

your neighbors, your lifelines, right beside you,

holding your hand and helping find answers.

That's what putting patients first actually means.

Learn more at strengthinhealthcare.org.

Brought to you by the Coalition to Strength in America's Healthcare.

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Todd, last question on the Max Crosby situation.

He tweeted out last night.

Everything happens for a reason.

I'm a rater. I'm back.

Is the Max Crosby trade saga over?

Are there still more storylines to be determined?

I guess nothing's over until it's over, right?

And you know, he's saying all those things.

And another deal too is while he spent a lot of his time

growing up in Michigan, he went to high school here in Play football.

So, you know, kind of would have been a homecoming, a source form.

But it certainly seems like no one is jumping back.

All the teams that you thought would have been interested.

It doesn't seem like anybody's jumping back into this thing

to rekindle the talk.

So, I'll say Max Crosby will be a rater.

And then you look at who they've had.

And all of a sudden, you think,

and boy, maybe the raiders might be okay.

Yeah.

They're just a huge step up from what they've been the last decade.

Or whatever it's been.

A few decades, yeah.

All you used to call on the team of the decades.

And they've been the team of the decades for the wrong reasons.

The last few.

It's not the last two.

I guess just in the end, just because we have you online,

we might as well get a little quick NFC East hit.

I mean, the Eagles have been, you know, the team.

I know that that rotating door at NFC East champions.

Is there a belief right now that I don't know.

The Eagles are sort of, I don't want to say stalling out.

They're still a great team.

But they haven't, they've lost a couple guys.

You know, the Cowboys have just seemed to not ever get where they need to go.

But going into 2026.

Is that the belief that the Cowboys become the lead horse in the NFC East

and the Eagles run?

Or am I sleeping on John Harbaugh's New York Giants

and Brandon Ayyuk's Washington commanders, maybe.

Are they moving Ayyuk to tight ends?

If he goes to watch.

I still think he has put the Eagles number one.

Even if they've lost guys, you know,

especially the other guys on defense that they lost on the first day there.

So, but I would still put them at number one.

I would say the Cowboys will be two and then whoever you want to say.

I want, you know, with Washington, it depends.

Hey, where's their quarterback coming back in the injury?

What kind of skill help did they give him?

And the Giants, I still think they had so far to go.

And everybody's excited about Jackson Darn.

I got you, but what they went for games last year.

So they're still, they still had to climb up a mountain.

I think they've gotten better.

I think Washington's gotten better.

Cowboys kind of the same at the moment.

Let's see if they add anybody through trades or anything like that

or get a deal done with your worth pick and pre-empt some more money.

And but I still think right now you'd have to put the Eagles at number one in the division.

But I don't know if they three P.

I wouldn't block it in as a three P in the NFC.

But I don't think we'll see another 20 year run

where there was a different winner every single year.

All right. Good stuff, Todd.

We appreciate the the feedback on OSA.

And we will continue to read you on ESPN.com.

And thanks for coming on.

Yeah, thanks, Todd.

Thanks a lot. Appreciate it, fellas.

Yeah, Todd Archer does a good job covering the Cowboys.

Listen, I feel the same way now at 642 that I did at 6 AM.

And when I heard the trade last night,

like, I've always liked this guy.

And you know, I told you guys I go back to college with him.

So I've always liked him.

Always thought he was a great player.

Always was, you know, upset that he became a Cowboy.

Watched him play well in the NFL.

Niners got a really good player who's still young

and contractually in a pretty good deal.

Now, what did they give up?

They give him a third round pick.

You know, third round pick is a significant pick.

I mean, if you insert John Lynch joke here

about the third round, right?

You know what I mean?

Like, maybe it's better than he does never third round.

I mean, he was just going to waste it on a run-back anyways.

I see there it is.

There's there's it is.

I said insert.

I said insert.

And I inserted it.

And you did it very good.

So I mean, listen, I like, I mean,

what you know, what's not to like?

Is some people, you know, kind of it would,

if you kind of got a strain to hate.

Listen, Mike Evans, I'm sorry.

Mike Evans is a great freaking player

and is going to play very well for the 49ers

barring some hamstring injury I'm not planning on.

And also, Digi Zua is a really good.

These are character guys.

The Niners are, you hear about this now

from all the beatwriters that you talk to and stuff

that the Niners are big on character that they will not.

Like Jalen Carter, for example, has come up.

The Eagles guy and he's known to be a little bit of a,

a little bit of a mouth content.

Yeah, he's had his issues even before getting to the end.

Yeah, so I mean, like with the Niners go for a Jalen

Carter, you'd think, no, I mean, they've had great locker rooms.

Some people say the reason why they went 12 and five last year

with all the injuries, excuse me,

young tone foghorn time could be because they're locker room culture.

Could have been other reasons too.

Yes.

In the last place,

guess you never mind.

There's no.

He was working on something else.

The, the, the Stinger board was updated by our corporate team.

So I don't have it on the board anymore.

There it is.

You know what?

When in doubt, blame corporate.

I like that.

I like that.

That's literally what I was told.

I agree.

Blame corporate all the time.

All the time.

I took corporate to stay with my soundboard.

Corporate holer.

Yeah.

Corporate holer.

Don't get me started with that guy.

The name of creative.

He was creative Tony's fantasy team, right?

It was.

Corporate holer.

Yes, it was.

All right.

So that was good.

Good breakdown.

We can.

Wait, what was that?

All right.

Thank you.

That was a misfire.

I'm also blaming the corporate team.

Talk to Matt Mayo.

Go more about this train at 850.

But the other big story was

Mark Dorosa sneaking through the back door.

You had a party.

And then I was saying, Hey,

somebody coming into the kitchen?

Oh, yeah, it's Mark Dorosa.

How do you get in here?

Dude sneaking in.

He's probably stealing a beer on his way

through the kitchen too on his way.

Oh, no, I've been here all along.

Team USA sneaks through the back door

to the quarter finals.

And we'll talk about it with Andy McCullough.

Great baseball writer for the athletic.

He's covering the WBC next on the sports leader.