Budding Cowboys star named team’s most improved player by PFF

The Dallas Cowboys need to bolster their defensive line this offseason.

Whether it be through free agency or the draft, the Cowboys can’t go into 2023 with their current pool of interior lineman. The idea there is to give budding star Osa odighizuwa a worthy running mate after Dallas spent 2022 rotating Quinton Bohanna, Neville Gallimore, Johnathan Hankins, and Carlos Watkins.

Fans — and even Micah Parsons — are banging the table for the front office to sign Daron Payne away from Washington.

Dalvin Tomlinson and Matt Ioannidis represent cheaper targets the Cowboys could pursue in free agency, while Michigan’s Mazi Smith and Florida’s Gervon Dexter Sr. are talented prospects whom could be available in the second round.

The important thing is the Cowboys already have a three-down workhorse in Odighizuwa. The 2021 third-round pick started 12 games as a rookie, playing 57% of the snaps, before starting all 17 games as a sophomore.

Odighizuwa was the clear standout on Dallas’ interior defensive line, and Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness honored the former UCLA star by pegging him as the Cowboys’ most improved player.

PFF names Osa Odighizuwa Cowboys’ most improved player in 2022

"“In just his second season in the league, Odighizuwa showed that he has the ability to at least be a solid contributor on the defensive line,” McGuinness wrote. “And he finished 2022 with a stretch that hinted at something more. He registered 31 tackles resulting in a defensive stop, 12 more than he did as a rookie, and ended the season with three straight games of earning a 75.0-plus PFF grade.”"

Odighizuwa made a stark 21.3 improvement in terms of PFF player grade as a sophomore relative to his rookie year. That’s doubly impressive when you consider he played the same number of defensive snaps both years.

After finishing with the second most pressures among rookie interior defenders in 2021, Odighizuwa compiled 31 more pressures in Year 2. He finished with 12 more defensive stops than he did as a rookie, doubled his sack output, recorded eight tackles for loss, and double-digit quarterback hits.

The former Bruin balled out in Dallas’ playoff win against the Buccaneers, too. He was the team’s highest-graded defender (82.8) and highest-graded run defender (73.3), posting three pressures, two stops and three total tackles.

If there was one thing about Odighizuwa in 2022 that stood out, it was he didn’t let tackle opportunities pass him by.

Whether it be a quarterback, running back, or chasing down a receiver, Odighizuwa gobbled up everything in his path, as his missed tackle rate dropped from 16.2% as a rookie to a ridiculous 2.3% in Year 2, according to PFF.

Keep in mind the 24-year-old did all of this while navigating revolving door of interior defenders all season. The arrow is pointing up for Odighizuwa as he prepares for Year 3, and it stands to point even higher if the Cowboys get him a worthwhile sidekick this offseason.

What a season from No. 97.

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