The Dallas Cowboys have taken a backseat at the NFL Combine in comparison to the Matthew Stafford saga and other hard-hitting storylines, but we have learned plenty about potential first-round targets and the team's free agency strategy.
As far as free agency, the Cowboys have made progress in negotiations with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa at the Combine.
Odighizuwa is expected to sign a contract that paints him as one of the best pass-rushing interior defenders in the game. While talks are ongoing, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the total value of the contract could eclipse $90 million over four years.
A third-round pick in 2021, Odighizuwa has missed one game in his career and ranked top five among interior defenders last season in QB hits, pass-rush win rate and pressures. The rumored price is lofty, but that is the going rate for very good players at the position.
Odighizuwa's deal won't fully handicap the Cowboys financially, but it could force them to make tough calls on other free agents. The latest rumblings out of Indianapolis strongly suggest that may be the case with one of the team's breakout stars.
Cowboys free agent RB Rico Dowdle may leave Dallas after breakout 2024 season
"The Cowboys are meeting with the agent of DeMarcus Lawrence on Friday, who also serves as the agent of Lewis and other free agents including running back Rico Dowdle and defensive end Chauncey Golston. With only so much money to go around before the Cowboys will bump up against the $279.2 million salary cap for 2025, it is expected that Dowdle and Golston could land bigger deals elsewhere."
Cowboys beat reporter Nick Harris
While that does not confirm Rico Dowdle - or Chauncey Golston - won't be back, it seems both players will have strong markets once free agency opens.
Both Dowdle and Golston are fan favorites, but Dowdle's potential departure would be far more consequential given the state of the running back room. That isn't to say re-signing Golston wouldn't be good business. The team just has more bodies at defensive end relative to running back.
Even though the Cowboys are widely expected to draft a running back - they literally won't have a choice if Dowdle leaves - it would be ideal to have one veteran in the room. That doesn't rule out signing a Nick Chubb or someone of that ilk, but it would only help to have someone who's familiar with the offense to serve as a mentor.
If Odighizuwa's potential deal squeezes Dowdle out of the team's budget, that is simply how business goes in the NFL. Being able to generate a pass rush from inside is invaluable in today's game. While the RB position isn't as devalued as it was just two years ago, it's easy to see why retaining Odighizuwa is the front office's top priority.
As for Dowdle, you can't fault him for potentially going to the highest bidder. He was finally healthy the last two seasons and proved in 2024 he's an above-average starter.
Among 23 running backs who carried at least 200 times last season, Dowdle ranked eighth in yards after contact per attempt, ninth in yards per carry, and 13th in missed tackles forced, per PFF. He deserves to make $5-7 million per year.
That might be too rich for the Cowboys, who are about to commit major money to Odighizuwa and have numerous other needs on the roster.
