Cowboys Fans, Prepare for the Worst: Osa Odighuzuwa Set to Bolt for Hated Rival in…
The Dallas Cowboys are suggesting they might be “buyers” in 2025 NFL free agency, and that should logically start with their work with “in-the-building” free agents.
Indeed, COO Stephen Jones is already saying that defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is a “priority.”
Fans can fell good about that, and maybe, too, feel good about the Joneses promising changes in their approach.
Seriously … Jerry is talking about an alteration, and so is Stephen.
From Jerry: “I want our fans to know that I do real good managing (the cap) … But we obviously haven’t done it well enough.”
From Stephen: “We’re going to take a long, hard look at how we’ve looked at free agency. And if we need to change some things there, we will.”
We’ve seen lots of fanboy websites insist that Dallas “must” and “will” hang onto Odighizuwa, a home-grown product. But they’re missing something: How much?
Osa has gotten the comparison to Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike. Baltimore’s defensive standout got a near-$100 million contract for four years last offseason.
Some think that is the ballpark for Odighizuwa.
That’s $25 million per year.
Odighizuwa, 26, has Pro Football Focus rating him the top defensive lineman available, and projects him warranting a four-year, $85 million contract.
That’s $21 million per year.
So far, so good, maybe. …. but there is also the thought that Odighizuwa will be coveted elsewhere – and maybe even poached by a rival.
ESPN is predicting that Dan Quinn, who took over the Commanders before last season after having been the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, will lead a push to sign Osa.
The site writes: “His 30 pressures were tied with the Jets’ Quinnen Williams for the second most among defensive tackles. Odighizuwa fits best as a 3-technique and can be a pass-rushing threat in nickel fronts.”
And from ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler: “Teams we’ve talked to think Odighizuwa is the top defensive tackle because of his versatility, durability and pass-rush traits. Washington is a team to potentially watch — coach Dan Quinn has been big fan of Odighizuwa from their Dallas days together.”
It’s been written that the Commanders “have the ability to outbid the Cowboys for Odighizuwa this offseason.” That is false. … in the sense that Dallas (with $100 million in potential cap space) can just as easily outbid Washington.
It won’t be a question of cents. It’ll be a question of sense.
And it won’t be an issue of “can they?” It will be an issue, really, of “should they?”
