Not even Jerry Jones can avoid the amount of attention the Dallas Cowboys are going to have to invest in their defense this offseason. High school defenses have look more competent, and that isn't hyperbole, so the Cowboys will have to bolster the unit in both free agency and the NFL Draft.
The pass-rush has been the major sore spot since Micah Parsons was dealt, so while there has been talk of Dallas landing star pass-rushers like Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby, it's not super likely. Knowing Jerry Jones, he'll capitalize on a weak free agent class and overpay someone undeserving.
And this is exactly what Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport sees them doing. Davenport floated the Cowboys as a potential landing spot for Hendrickson's teammate, Bengals edge rusher Joseph Ossai, but he would be the worst possible player for Christian Parker's defense to take a gamble on.
The Dallas Cowboys have no reason to sign Joseph Ossai in free agency
There's no denying that the 25-year-old is a solid player, but he's never produced gaudy numbers. He logged five sacks in each of the last two seasons, while combining for 45 pressures and 27 quarterback hits between 2024 and 2025, as Davenport laid out.
But that production isn't worth almost $10 million per year.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ossai hasn't had a pass rush win rate above 11.0 in each of the last two seasons. A 9.3% win rate in 2024 and a 10.7% win rate in 2025 doesn't scream free agency game changer, even though his role has started to increase considerably across that same time frame.
Spotrac projects Ossai's market value to come in around four years and $36.8 million, which is over $9 million per season for a player who has never surpassed five sacks. That's pretty rich, especially when better options are available for the taking in Dallas as long as Jerry keeps an open mind.
The 2021 third-round pick is familiar with the Lone Star State because of his time playing at Texas, but that isn't enough to sway perspective. The Cowboys badly need proven pass-rushers to transform the DL, not guys who can't even meet the league average in pass rush win rate.
Beyond figuring out extensions with Javonte Williams and George Pickens, giving new DC Christian Parker as much help as he can should be atop Jones' to-do list this offseason. But taking a gamble on Ossai is a move that could harm this defense just as much as it helps it, so Dallas needs to stay away.
Not only is it about investing in the defense, it's about doing so with the right moves, because if they don't they could waste another year of Dak Prescott's prime.