The Dallas Cowboys will not be headed to the playoffs in 2024. That was inevitable once the severity of Dak Prescott's hamstring injury was revealed, but it is a testament to the team's character that it took until the final two weeks for them to get eliminated from contention.
Even though Dallas has two division games against the Eagles and Commanders, respectively, to close out the season, the 2025 season has come into focus.
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Similar to last year, the Cowboys have myriad players on expiring contracts. Fans hoping for an external spending spree shouldn't get their hopes up. While that is normally wishful thinking with this front office, most of the team's budget should be allocated to retaining their own.
Extending Micah Parsons will be the overarching storyline, but several Cowboys have played their way into the team's long-term plans beyond 2024. Bulldog cornerback Jourdan Lewis is chief among them.
Cowboys playing their way into the team's long-term plans beyond 2024
Jourdan Lewis, CB
While Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods on their resume, Lewis is without question the heartbeat of the secondary.
At 29 years old, Lewis has kept father time at bay to the tune of 78.7 coverage grade that ranks fifth among qualified corners, per PFF. He is also fourth in average depth of target allowed and has the second most defensive stops at the position.
Lewis is a top-three most important player on Dallas' defense. He's been the most consistent player on that side of the ball over the last two seasons, including Micah Parsons. His price tag will be significant, but he shouldn't dawn another uniform for the rest of his career.
Rico Dowdle, RB
It remains indefensible that it took two months into the season for Dowdle to become the lead running back.
Dowdle had a quiet game Sunday night against the Buccaneers and yet he ranks fifth with 625 rushing yards from Weeks 9-16 and third with 5.0 yards per carry, per PFF. He is first (!!) during that stretch with 3.77 yards after contact per tote and fourth with 18 explosive runs.
For the season, only Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson and Kareem Hunt have a higher rushing success rate than Dowdle's 55.3%. He is clearly an above average starter at the position.
Paying a 26-year-old running back normally wouldn't be smart business, but Dowdle won't command a hefty salary and he's only logged 265 carries in his career. Pairing him with a rookie - ideally a day two pick - would give Dallas a dynamic running game.
Osa Odighizuwa, DT
Similar to Lewis, Odighizuwa has played so well this season that he might be playing himself out of the Cowboys' price range. The front office has all but revealed its plans to tighten the budget, but they cannot afford to let Odighizuwa leave in free agency.
Among qualified interior defenders, Odighizuwa ranks second with a 14.7% pass-rush win rate, per PFF (subscription required). Only Chiefs superstar Chris Jones has a higher win rate. He is third at the position with 55 pressures and 13 QB hits, and ninth with 30 defensive stops.
There are two games left and Odighizuwa has already set career-highs in sacks, pressures, quarterback hits and defensive stops.
The former third-round pick is Dallas' most disruptive interior defender in at least a decade. He'll probably ask for north of $15 million per year. For a front office that preaches retaining homegrown talent, they have to make Odighizuwa a part of their long-term future.
KaVontae Turpin, KR/WR
It took longer than it should have, but Mike McCarthy has finally started manufacturing offensive touches for KaVontae Turpin.
Even with a combined two targets over the last two games, Turpin has set career-highs across the board this season. That includes targets, catches, receiving yards, yards per catch, receiving touchdowns, carries and rushing yards.
Turpin is one of the fastest ball-carriers in the NFL. He's too dynamic in open space to not receive five-to-seven offensive touches per game.
Of course, 28-year-old is also the best return specialist in football. He leads the league with 826 kickoff return yards and a whopping 34.3 yards per kickoff return. A restricted free agent after the season, the Cowboys need to sign Turpin to a multi-year contract.