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FRISCO, TX — Time will reveal soon what the verdict is for the most important interior defensive lineman, Osa Odighizuwa, as he continues to negotiate with the Dallas Cowboys on a potential long term deal. But while that's one major thing needing resolution, it is definitely not the only.
The 2024 season got off to an ominous start when Sam Williams went to at the start of training camp with a season-ending torn ACL, and only a few months after both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler left Dallas to stick with Dan Quinn as head coach of the Washington Commanders.
The defensive end position for the Cowboys went on to be devastated by injury as the year went along, and though players like Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston stepped up as they could, but even second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland spent time on the sideline with injury.
And then there was DeMarcus Lawrence, the multi-time Pro Bowler suffering a season-ending injury of his own; and, like Odighizuwa, he must now negotiate to try and land a new deal in Dallas. Not entirely different is the case of Micah Parsons, the all-world edge rusher still under contract for 2025, but who could very well land a massive contract extension at any point this offseason.
Parsons was the stabilizing force for the unit, but even he missed a chunk of the season with injury in 2024.
So much is in the air at defensive end at the moment, but what will land this offseason?
[FYI: Be sure to check out the entire '*What’s Next?*' series as a primer to "Open Market".]
What's Here:
DeMarcus Lawrence: It would be difficult to imagine a world in which Lawrence doesn't suit up for the Cowboys but, let's be honest, stranger things have happened like, say, Tyron Smith playing for the Jets in 2024. And seeing as Tank has no thoughts of retiring like Zack Martin, there's a solid chance he entertains several offers before committing his future. You can bet teams like the Commanders will knock on his door, as one example of a few, and the Cowboys will have to decide their comfort level on paying a double-digit annual price to keep him onboard.
Carl Lawson: A more reasonable financial keep, Lawson effectively re-established himself as one of the better pass rushers in the NFL last season. With that mission accomplished, it's a no-brainer to consider keeping him in Dallas and especially if Lawrence walks, because the EDGE position is currently in far too much flux as Schottenheimer and Eberflus try to get things settled going forward. Lawson's impact was felt time and again in 2024, and he'd cost one-third of Lawrence, though the added value of Lawrence as a run stopper and locker room leader exceeds Lawson's role; but, ideally, keeping both would be nice.
What's Out There:
Note: These players will be unrestricted on March 13, barring a newly-signed deal with their incumbent team prior to that date.
Haason Reddick: This one is admittedly a stretch but not to the point that he's disqualified (see below) due to price, or at least not yet. The problem with Reddick is he wants a big multi-year deal and he wants it yesterday — just ask the Jets about it. I've long been a proponent of adding Reddick to the Cowboys' roster and, talent-wise, I am still on that hill but, financially-speaking, I don't see how the front office would choose to play in that sandbox with a player who doesn't play nice when it comes to contract demands.
Azeez Ojulari: Turning the page to Ojulari also means dropping down to the single digits regarding millions to be paid annually. The former second-round pick of the Giants is a player the Cowboys know well from their times lining up against him, and though he isn't exactly a world beater on the field, his career production indicates he could step in and be what Lawson was and what Dante Fowler was before Lawson, but it would be twice the cost of Lawson while still millions less than Lawrence, making for an interesting conversation overall about Ojulari.
Derek Barnett: We might as well continue this focus on former NFC East foes in looking at Barnett, who put himself on the Cowboys' radar both as a member of the Eagles and then again in his time with the Texans — sacking Cooper Rush last season and forcing a fumble that went through a circus of events before Barnett would scoop it up and run it in for a touchdown. His five sacks last season were the most since 2020, his potential price nearly identical to Ojulari at $7 million annually.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Baron Browning: These are two rotational players who feel too pricey to me, at around $5 million per annum, for what they would contribute, namely a rotational role that also serves on special teams. Neither logged more than two sacks in 2024, though they have at times in their career; and that's evidence they can make an impact. Still, I find it difficult to fork over that sum for a veteran non-starter when better options exist in one way or another.
Disqualified by cost: Josh Sweat, Chase Young, Khalil Mack, Malcolm Koonce, Dayo Odeyingbo - All of these players are far too expensive for what the Cowboys' front office are looking to do this offseason, as they hope to keep Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis, to name a couple, as the names on this D/Q list range from a projected cost of $15 million to $25 million per year — so, um, it's not happening.
