The Dallas Cowboys will conclude the 2024 season with a losing record, failing to achieve the organization’s expectations yet again. While this season has been disappointing, many supporters expected it given the roster’s many weaknesses. As a result, the Cowboys face a significant amount of work this summer to restructure their roster.
However, the Cowboys have a number of players whose contracts are coming to an end before they can consider free agency. Running back Rico Dowdle, defensive end Chauncey Golston, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa are some of these guys. Last Friday, Stephen Jones, executive vice president of the Cowboys, made a statement on the players’ condition on 105.3 The Fan.
“We want them back,” Jones said. They have demonstrated that they play football for the Dallas Cowboys. We definitely want those guys back, but it’s just a matter of figuring out how to fit everyone under the salary ceiling,” Jon Machota said.
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The Cowboys in 2024 have benefited greatly from each of the players Jones discussed re-signing. The Cowboys selected Odighizuwa in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has excelled over the course of nearly four seasons.
Odighizuwa has 44 tackles, four sacks, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 22 quarterback hits with one game remaining in the season. This season has seen Odighizuwa’s best statistical performance to date in his young career. Jones and the Cowboys organization’s desire to keep Odighizuwa is therefore not surprising. Conversely, Lewis was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft and has been a member of the Cowboys ever since. During that period, the 29-year-old has racked up 381 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, and 9 fumble recoveries.
Lewis has amassed 66 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception so far this season. Lewis also has an average depth of target of only 6.7 yards. Even if Jones acknowledged that they wanted to bring him back because he will be 30 years old, it’s still good play from a cornerback. A younger cornerback or a different position might be signed with the same money spent to sign Lewis.
Golston was draughted by the Cowboys in 2021, just as Odighizuwa. But with just 15 starts, 12 of which came this season, Golston has made a lot fewer starts than Odighizuwa. Golston has appeared in 63 games over his career, although having less starts. One interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, 15 quarterback hits, 132 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss have all been recorded by Golston in those 63 games. Golston has recorded 53 tackles, four sacks, four tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and six quarterback hits thus far this season. Golston is valuable to the Cowboys because, despite his lack of starting experience, he plays well off the bench.
Finally, it’s intriguing to wonder if Dowdle merits an extension. Dowdle was able to return and assume the starting role because Dallas refused to bring back former lead back Tony Pollard; now, he finds himself in a similar situation to Pollard’s during this past summer. Dowdle has run 213 times for 1,007 yards and one score in 15 games. Even though he occasionally struggles with efficiency, Dowdle’s run game has changed significantly in the final month of the season. Even if fans don’t agree, Jones must believe that’s plenty to get Dowdle back next season.