NFL insider updates contract negotiations between Dallas Cowboys, Osa Odighizuwa

“Selectively aggressive” is the term of the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. This was used by Stephen Jones when discussing the team’s free agency outlook for the offseason. One area where Jones knows Dallas will have to make a splash is defensive tackle and luckily, there is already somebody in-house with Osa Odighizuwa.

Reports have indicated Dallas is attempting to get a deal done with Odighizuwa in the near future. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network provided the latest on Thursday, saying there have been conversations. For now, nothing appears imminent but the Cowboys are attempting to keep Odighizuwa within the organization.

“They have been engaged in contract negotiations,” Rapoport said. “This according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer. They’re not done yet. My understanding is that they’re not particularly close but they’re working to try and somehow get this done.”

If Odighizuwa were to hit the open market, he would project as one of the top available free agents out there. The former UCLA product finally had his breakout season with the Cowboys, emerging in the latter half. Odighizuwa finished with a career-high 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 23 quarterback hits.

The TFLs were actually a career-low at five but teams would be more interested in the sacks and QB hits.

Dallas is looking to make sure nobody even gets the opportunity to speak to the defensive tackle, hoping to lock him up for the immediate future. It’s a position of need with or without Odighizuwa resigning but retaining the veteran talent would be a major plus.

A few other offseason negotiations are set to take place along the defensive line, specifically DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. Rapoport says the Cowboys and Odighizuwa are not close yet but he still appears to be the first box Dallas is hoping to check off.

Dallas Cowboys set for ‘selectively aggressive’ offseason

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had some interesting things to say about the team’s plan for the offseason. While speaking to reporters on Monday, Jones said the Cowboys will be “selectively aggressive” this year.

“We’re gonna look at everything we can. “We’re going to be selectively aggressive,” Stephen Jones said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “…You have certain amount of resources they’ll allow to have. We’ll look at that, but we’re going to try to improve our football team, not try but we’re gonna improve our football team. We expect to have success next year.”

On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this report