Cowboys Winning 'Bidding War' With Massive Osa Offer

One of the most talked-about names on the free-agent market this offseason has been Osa Odighizuwa. The 6-2, 280-pound Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman is already receiving a lot of buzz surrounding his future. His steady production last season and his expiring contract are stirring conversations, and rightfully so.

This comes after a more productive second half of the 2024 season, despite the struggles the Cowboys faced as a whole.

Odighizuwa has already shown flashes of greatness on the inside for Dallas, grading 31^st among 118 defensive lineman last season, according to PFF. He totaled 47 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks on the year and currently ranks first among interior defenders on PFF’s free agent list.

Heading into free agency, Odighizuwa’s expiring contract with Dallas is an intriguing note for many teams looking to bolster the line of scrimmage. For owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office, there are slim chances the four-year starter receives a franchise tag.

In addition to Osa, there is a looming Micah Parsons deal, and other "selectively aggressive" moves in the game plan, to use COO Stephen Jones' phrasing.

With his proven track record and potential for growth, it’s expected that Odighizuwa will command a competitive market from around the league. But from who?

According to our CowboysCountry.com scoop? From Dallas.

Initial reports show Cincinnati, Carolina, and San Francisco are potential suitors for Odighizuwa, but Dallas of course is expected to make a major push to keep their 2021 third-rounder. And indeed ...

Cowboys insider Mike Fisher reports on Thursday morning on CowboysCountry.com that a deal with Dallas and Odighizuwa is "very close" to completion. ... adding that the dollar figure might come in near $21 million per year.

If this comes to fruition? That will end the idea of a "bidding war'' for Osa.

While the team saw its fair share of disappointment in 2024, Odighizuwa was one of the few consistent bright spots in Dallas, allowing his market value to soar heading into the spring.

PFF projects his next contract to be worth in the neighborhood of four years and $85 million, which would put him inside the top-10 of interior defensive lineman in annual salary.

A loss of Odighizuwa on the defensive line would be a crucial blow to this Cowboys unit, who ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive yards allowed.

Odighizuwa, who turns 27 just before the season begins, has the potential to use his relentless motor to be an anchor on any defensive line in the NFL. Dallas, however, with the advantage of him already being inside the organization, has the opportunity to lock him down for the future before the window opens for everyone on March 12. 

This allows the Cowboys to solidify Odighizuwa at tackle with plenty of time left to re-sign other players ... starting with Parsons.