Heading into the offseason, many assumed the Dallas Cowboys had reached the end of their relationship with Osa Odighizuwa. There was no bad blood on either side, just the belief that the team wouldn’t pursue him ahead of free agency.
Odighizuwa has been consistent since joining the Cowboys in 2021, not missing a game in the last three seasons. The decision surrounding the team wasn’t about him personally.
However, the Cowboys’ notably cautious approach last spring and summer, despite claiming they were “all in” for the 2024 season, led to lowered expectations for major spending this year. A potential Micah Parsons extension and salary cap limitations have also complicated matters.
That changed this past week, when reports revealed that the Cowboys had begun talks with Odighizuwa. The discussions progressed positively throughout the week, with a deal seeming imminent.
By the weekend, however, those expectations were tempered, and the outlook of the negotiations had shifted.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday that the Cowboys have set a Tuesday deadline to finalize a deal with Odighizuwa. If no long-term agreement is reached by then, the team plans to apply the franchise tag to the defensive tackle.
The franchise tag is estimated at $25.1 million. Some have found this surprising, but it could be a strategy to give the team more time, serving as a temporary solution.
This doesn’t contradict CowboysCountry.com’s report that the two sides are “very close” to a deal.
If the franchise tag is used, it’s still a placeholder to retain Odighizuwa’s rights, and negotiations could continue.
As the two sides work through these issues, it’s a positive sign that the Cowboys want to keep Odighizuwa. He recorded 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season, maintaining strong performance on the Cowboys’ defensive line.
Dallas faces a busy offseason on defense, starting with Matt Eberflus becoming the new defensive coordinator. Talks with Micah Parsons are expected to ramp up soon, and the team has expressed intentions to retain veteran contributors like Jourdan Lewis and DeMarcus Lawrence.
After the frustrations of last offseason, Cowboys Nation had little reason to expect much activity this spring. However, the recent escalation in talks with Odighizuwa’s camp has changed that outlook, offering at least some indication that Dallas will be active in the coming weeks.