We are approximately six weeks away from the start of free agency for the Dallas Cowboys, and it is safe to assume that the team will be a wallflower. The Cowboys do not believe in spending in free agency, and if you believe otherwise at this stage, that is on you. There is more than enough data to support this, but it is limited to external free agency. Some years, the Cowboys can be aggressive in terms of retaining their own players. This was not always the case last year, when they let Tyron Smith, Tony Pollard, Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong… you get the idea. The Cowboys let a few people get away.
In terms of this year’s free agents, the Cowboys don’t have a lot of names that are expected to draw interest, but they do have two names on ESPN’s list of the top 50. 10. Osa Odighizuwa (DT) 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering season 2025: 27 Odighizuwa, a disruptive defender who can offer energy and impact to the defensive front, recorded 4.5 sacks this season. His 30 pressures tied him with the Jets’ Quinnen Williams for second place among defensive tackles. Odighizuwa is most suited as a 3-technique and can be a pass-rushing menace in nickel fronts.
Fowler’s latest: Teams we’ve spoken with believe Odighizuwa is the best defensive tackle due to his flexibility, durability, and pass-rushing abilities. Washington is a squad to keep an eye on, as coach Dan Quinn has been a huge fan of Odighizuwa since their days in Dallas. 21. Zach Martin, G 2024 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 34 If Martin returns for a 12th season, he will still provide the combination of size (6-4, 315 pounds) and mobility that coaches seek at the guard position. However, he is no longer as springy as he once was, and he is vulnerable to edge attacks. Martin played only 10 games this season due to a right ankle injury, but his pass block win percentage of 93.7% placed 15th among guards.
It should be noted that DeMarcus Lawrence and Rico Dowdle made the list as honorable mentions, but they are definitely not among ESPN’s top 50 players. But Osa Odighizuwa and Zack Martin are receiving some attention. Speaking with Zack Martin is a little easier because he is much closer to the end of his career than Odighizuwa is. Martin appears to be the type of player who will either return to the Cowboys on a one-year contract or retire. When his season finished, it appeared that retirement was on the horizon, but you never know.
By the way, this may also apply to Lawrence. He and Martin were picked in the same class in 2014, and they have contributed significantly to the organization. Maybe we’ll see them leave for a one-year contract elsewhere in the pursuit of a title. Who knows. Odighizuwa is one of the most essential offseason moves the Cowboys can make. He’s long been an underestimated player, and sharing a draft class with Micah Parsons is most likely why. If not for Parsons, Odighizuwa would have received far greater national attention.
However, Odighizuwa is coming off his greatest season as a pro and is one of the most powerful interior defensive line players the Cowboys have had in a long time. It is reasonable to believe that he will follow Dan Quinn, as many players did in free agency last year; nonetheless, that would be the worst possible outcome here. For what it’s worth, the front office has recently shown a desire to keep Odighizuwa. They have long used lingo like “at the right price” in instances like these, and if he has a large number of offers, the conversation may finish there.
Leave a Reply