NFL rumors: Cowboys ‘very close’ to $21 million annual contract with star free agent

The Dallas Cowboys and defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa have had an interesting dialogue this season. The Cowboys were rumored to franchise tag Odighizuwa before being very close to reaching a contract, according to Mike Fisher of Athlon Sports. A $23 million franchise tag would’ve been a pretty penny to pay.

After all, the Cowboys have a good chunk of their salary tied up between CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. However, they know that keeping the core pieces will do wonders. They let Tony Pollard walk in free agency in the 2024 offseason and that truly hurt them.

Not to mention, the Dallas defense was not anywhere close to where it was in 2023. They allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL that season. This previous season, they allowed the second-most. Although there were a plethora of injuries, it’s a new era in Dallas.

Former head coach Mike McCarthy and the team parted ways, and now offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is stepping in. However, the team might not be getting a downgrade on defense. The Cowboys hired Matt Eberflus to be their next defensive coordinator.

After spending his previous seasons with the Chicago Bears, he’s ready to call plays once again. As a result, it could help Odighizuwa expand his game and take that leap.

The Cowboys and Osa Odighizuwa could have a new contract soon

Related Dallas Cowboys NewsArticle continues below

Although this is simply a rumor, the proof is in the pudding. Odighizuwa is a budding defensive lineman who has shown improvements every season. Luckily, he had former offensive guard Zack Martin to compete against in practice. The future Hall of Famer likely gave Odighizuwa plenty of tips and tricks about his game.

As a result, that could trickle over into next season, and he’s ready for that next leap in his playmaking ability. This was his most productive season, as he had 4.5 sacks, one pass deflection, and a forced fumble. Not to mention, he had 23 quarterback hits on the season, ten more than his previous year.

General manager Jerry Jones must see the potential with the defensive tackle by giving him a contract of this magnitude. Also, Cowboys’ Stephen Jones opened up about a possible contract with Odighizuwa. At that time, he mentioned that a deal could likely get done. This rumor is further proof in the pudding about a potential contract.

Either way, Dallas has more work to do than just squaring away the defensive tackle’s contract. Still, securing him for the future adds more promise to the defensive front moving forward.

Related Posts

Packers coach dropped just two words about Myles Garrett — and those words hit harder than any sack on the field

раckerѕ Coаch Uѕeѕ 2 Wordѕ To Deѕcrіbe Myleѕ Gаrrett Myleѕ Gаrrett ѕtаndѕ аѕ Clevelаnd’ѕ defenѕіve cornerѕtone аnd one of the NFL’ѕ moѕt dіѕruрtіve forceѕ. The Brownѕ’ ѕtаr…

This was supposed to be Dallas in trouble but Clowney’s arrival just turned the tables, leaving Washington stuck with a move that screams panic not power

The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive end room has been hushed without Micah Parsons. While that isn’t overly surprising, fans expected a lot more from Dante Fowler and Sam…

🚨 ROOKIE IN TROUBLE: TreVeyon Henderѕon’ѕ ѕрeed іѕ іnѕаne but Vrаbel іѕ ѕendіng а wаrnіng ѕіren thаt hіѕ раѕѕ blockіng іѕ ѕhаky, Pаtrіotѕ fаnѕ аre ѕcreаmіng, every рlаy could turn іnto а dіѕаѕter, аnd the rookіe hаѕ one ѕhot to ѕteр uр before he loѕeѕ the ѕрotlіght comрletely.

New englаnd раtrіotѕ heаd coаch Mіke Vrаbel hіghlіghted аn аreа where runnіng bаck TreVeyon Henderѕon needѕ to іmрrove before аѕѕumіng а lаrger role іn the offenѕe. TreVeyon…

LIONS EARTHQUAKE 💙🦁🔥: Heаd coаch Dаn Cаmрbell ѕhockѕ the NFL by bаnnіng а rookіe from рlаyіng аfter hіѕ ѕhаmeleѕѕ celebrаtіon of Chаrlіe Kіrk’ѕ р@ѕѕіng — Ford Fіeld іѕ rocked, fаnѕ roаr іn fury, аnd іnѕіderѕ feаr Detroіt’ѕ fаіrytаle rіѕe mіght be teаrіng араrt…

The Detroit Lions have been one of the NFL’s most inspiring stories of the past two seasons. Under Dan Campbell, the team has transformed from perennial

🚨HUTCHINSON’S HEART-STUNNER: In а ѕtory thаt feelѕ bіgger thаn footbаll, Aіdаn Hutchіnѕon’ѕ mother teаrfully remembered the dаyѕ theіr fаmіly could bаrely аfford to eаt—untіl а humble reѕtаurаnt owner keрt them аfloаt. Yeаrѕ lаter, Hutchіnѕon wаlked bаck through thoѕe ѕаme doorѕ, not for а meаl, but to quіetly ѕlіde over а $500,000 check аnd hаng а ѕіmрle meѕѕаge on the wаll ѕo рowerful іt left the owner ѕрeechleѕѕ, іnѕtаntly turnіng thаt lіttle reѕtаurаnt іnto а legend etched іn hіѕtory.

In a deeply emotional full-circle moment, NFL star Aidan Hutchinson quietly returned to a small local restaurant that once helped his struggling family

🚨SAINTS ROOKIE TEST: Spencer Rattler is stepping into the great unknown as New Orleans hits the road for the first time, and all eyes are locked on whether the young QB can silence the crowd, steady the huddle, and prove he’s ready for prime-time pressure.

Kellen Moore and Spencer Rattler face challenges of discipline and consistency in their first trip to a hostile environment