Are the Dallas Cowboys finally starting to learn from past mistakes? While it is too early in the NFL calendar to say so, they could not have started the offseason on a higher note.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys and Osa Odighizuwa have agreed to terms on a contract extension that keeps the star defensive tackle in Dallas for the foreseeable future and prevents him from reaching free agency. It's a four-year, $80 million deal that includes $58 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus.
That is certainly a steep price and creates more questions about the team's cap situation, but Odighizuwa has established himself as one of the most important and consistent players on the defense. This deal should only be viewed as fantastic news.
Cowboys re-sign star defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to monster four-year extension
Cowboys and DT Osa Odighizuwa reached agreement today on a four-year, $80 million deal that includes $58 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025
Odighizuwa’s agent Sam Leaf Ireifej negotiated and confirmed the deal. pic.twitter.com/G96RihxqFQ
Talk about a dream start to the offseason. With free agency still one week away, the Cowboys can now pivot to re-signing other key free agents.
Stephen Jones told the Dallas Morning News at the Combine that they would like to keep nickel corner Jourdan Lewis and running back Rico Dowdle. We'll see what comes of that, but signing Odighizuwa early gives the front office ample time to negotiate with Lewis and Dowdle, who, along with Odighizuwa, were two of the team's best players last season.
As far as Odighizuwa, though, he was a must-keep this offseason.
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While Dallas should have extended Odighizuwa last offseason, we are well past the point of hoping the front office getting out in front of contracts for their homegrown stars. It would have saved them around $5-7 million on Odighizuwa's salary, but they deserve credit for getting it done after they let several good players leave last offseason.
Odighizuwa likely would have bee a goner if he reached free agency. He was one of the top two impending free agent DTs in a very weak class. Multiple teams would have been comfortable offering him a salary in the $22-25 million range and we know this regime hates bidding wars.
The Cowboys have not given Odighizuwa much help at nose tackle. It's no secret Mazi Smith has not lived up to his first-round billing. Johnathan Hankins is probably the best NT Odighizuwa has played with and that isn't saying much.
Despite that, Odighizuwa has produced at a high level. The former third-round pick boasted a 96th-percentile pass-rush win rate last season that was fourth-best among interior defenders, per PFF (h/t Marcus Mosher on X). He also led the position with 14 quarterback hits and finished third in pressures and fourth in sacks and hurries.
Losing Odighizuwa would have been devastating. He's still just 26 years old, has gotten better every year, only missed one game in his career and is adored in the locker room.
You could not have drawn up a better start to the offseason.
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