The Dallas Cowboys have said all of the right things before free agency. Executive vice president Stephen Jones believes the team needs to alter its passive approach to signing players outside the organization in order to keep pace with the Eagles and other elite teams.
Given Dallas' history, though, fans are relucant to buy in. After all, Jerry Jones notoriously stated last year that he would be all-in as far as offseason spending only to dole out the least guaranteed of any team in free agency.
The Cowboys' historically have prioritized re-signing their own players and shopping in the second, third and fourth waves for external talent. That doesn't necessarily mean star defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa will be back, though.
Odighizuwa isn't a household name just yet, but the football world finally understands he's a difference-maker at defensive tackle after a banner 2024 season. He is considered one of the best free agents in this class regardless of position and that comes with a hefty price.
Osa Odighizuwa's contract projection is nightmare fuel for Cowboys fans
Pro Football Focus projects Odighizuwa will get a four-year, $85 million (!) deal on the open market with $42.5 million guaranteed. That averages out to $21.5 million per year.
Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team feels eerily similar. Mosher thinks Odighizuwa will get $63 million over three years, which equates to $21 million per year.
A third-round pick in 2021, Odighizuwa doesn't have lofty sack numbers in his career, but he led all interior defenders in quarterback hits last season and was third in pressures. In four years, he's compiled 13.5 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 58 QB hits and 171 pressures.
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This year's free agency class is not particularly strong for interior defenders. There will be a high demand for a player of Odighizuwa's caliber. The former UCLA star will be 27 years old through next season and he hasn't missed a game in his career.
It's worth noting, too, that Odighizuwa has been productive on a consistent basis despite being saddled with underwhelming nose tackles. While playing on the same line as Micah Parsons obviously helps, he's been the main focus for opposing interior offensive lines. It is safe to assume his production will improve if he plays alongside a quality one-tech tackle.
The Cowboys know the kind of player Odighizuwa is and how valuable he is to their defense. The question they have to answer is whether to pay him upwards of $20 million annually or let him walk and spread out those resources to sign maybe two defensive tackles.
Given the kind of players this front office usually targets, re-signing Odighizuwa is undoubtedly the move even at his projected cost.