Mailbag: Will Cowboys use the franchise tag?

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

With the NFL franchise tag window opening today, do you see the Cowboys using the tag on any player? – Benjamin Reynolds/Austin, TX

Nick: I don't think that's a likely scenario this year. When you look at the unrestricted free agents, it doesn't really make sense that anyone is at that elite level. Sure, they want to bring Osa Odighizuwa back, but probably not for a contract in the range of $20 million per season. And the tag is around $24 million for just one season. As much as I like Osa, I don't think that's a smart play for the tag. Maybe a long-term deal, but not in that range.

And the same goes for your other key free agents. The Cowboys like their guys such as Rico Dowdle, Jourdan Lewis, but not at that value for the franchise tag.

I would think the Cowboys would likely use the tag next year, either on Micah Parsons if a deal isn't reach or maybe even Brandon Aubrey if he's a free agent.

Kurt:

Given the estimated dollar amounts for each position, the Cowboys using the franchise tag seems doubtful. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa seems to be the most likely candidate, but the salary value, as determined by Spotrac.com, to tag him as a defensive tackle is more than $24 million for one year.

Now, Spotrac also lists Odighizuwa's estimated market value at $21 million, so that's not too far off, but still, getting locked into a tag figure seems tough for a team already currently over the salary cap.

So would you spend more than $13 million for running back Rico Dowdle? Spotrac has his market value at $6.2 million. Or would you fork out nearly $20 million on cornerback Jourdan Lewis? They're guessing his market value is $2.3 million. Those are some pretty significant differences.

Of course, the Cowboys could possibly tag someone like Odighizuwa with the full intention of negotiating a long-term deal over the next few months, but how did that work out with Tony Pollard? Dallas tagged him in 2023 for more than $10 million and then never got a deal done. After rushing for 1,005 yards, he signed a three-year contract worth $7.25 million a year with Tennessee in 2024.

Again, it seems doubtful given the team's salary cap situation and the significant cost required, but you never know. Odighizuwa would certainly fill a definite need, but hopefully they can negotiate a new deal without the fuss of the franchise tag.