Mailbag: Where has Osa improved this year?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

It seems like Osa Odighizuwa is finally getting some recognition with Greg Olsen calling him one of the best defensive tackles in the game during last Sunday's broadcast. In what areas has he improved this season? Since he's in a contract year, is he playing himself out of what the Cowboys' can afford? – Roland Williams/Denver, CO

Mickey: Well, it's getting close, right? But if he keeps this up the rest of the way I would think he would become a Cowboys priority to re-sign since there isn't really anyone waiting in the wings to replace what he does. Mazi is a one-tech, and there is not another young defensive tackle playing the 3 that I see on this roster. You know, like last year at defensive end when the Cowboys passed on the expensive Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr., they had Sam Williams ready to emerge. Unfortunately, he suffered the torn ACL in training camp.

Now the cap will be tight again, maybe even tighter than it has been this year. But I'd imagine the Cowboys must look at Osa as playing a position of value. He is playing nearly 80 percent of the snaps this season, and at least 78 percent in the past five games and as much as 90 percent against the Giants. To me, he's a keeper unless some teams just money whips him.

Tommy: I think his ability to get after the passer and apply pressure has been his biggest improvement this season. That's not to say he wasn't good at that last season – he had 47 pressures and three sacks – but with three games left in the 2024 season, he's generated 44 pressures and four sacks, with the fourth coming on Sunday against the Panthers.

Add that to the fact that he's equally as effective stopping the run (40 tackles and 8 run stuffs this season) and he's certainly going to demand a pretty pay check heading into this offseason. Greg Olsen is absolutely right that he's playing like one of the best defensive tackles in the league right now, and the Cowboys front office will definitely have a tough decision to make after these last three games.

My two cents? If you've got one of the best in the league at their position, find a way to keep them around.