3 free agents with Mike Zimmer ties that the Cowboys could sign

It took longer than expected, but the Dallas Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. You have to think Zimmer will want to bring in his own assistants. We don't expect a complete overhaul of the defensive staff (Al Harris obviously isn't going anywhere), but small-scale changes could follow.

That's the nature of the beast in the NFL. A new coach comes in and wants his own coaches. That explains why Dan Quinn brought Cowboys defensive pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with him to Washington as his defensive coordinator.

Similarly, Zimmer could want the Cowboys to take a look at his former players. With that in mind, let's underline some free agents with ties to Zimmer Dallas could target once the new league year opens in mid-March.

3. DE Ifeadi Odenigbo

The Cowboys have multiple holes in their pass rush rotation to patch up. Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler are free agents. The two edge rushers racked up a combined 26 sacks (16 from Armstrong) over the last two seasons.

All signs point to 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams jumping into a prominent role, but he won't be enough to offset the losses of Armstrong and Fowler, assuming both leave. With that in mind, Ifeadi Odenigbo could step in as the fourth or fifth member of the DE rotation.

A former seventh-round pick of Zimmer's Vikings in 2017, Odenigbo inked a one-year $1.08 million with the Jets last offseason. Unfortunately, Odenigbo was placed on season-ending injured reserve in August with an undisclosed leg injury.

Odenigbo would be a risky signing coming off a major injury, but that is right up the Cowboys wheelhouse (see Terence Steele and Michael Gallup's extensions). He enjoyed his best seasons under Zimmer. Between 2017 and 2018, Odenigbo posted 10.5 sacks, 28 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss.

He could be worth a dart throw to reunite him with Zimmer.