As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the summer months, a former 2021 draft pick has been named the team’s most underrated player going into 2024.
That player is Osa Odighizuwa.
The former UCLA Bruin has been a solid player on the defensive line molding into his own over the last few seasons.
Micah Parsons will reportedly return to The Star today and rejoin the team for the rest of OTAs. Huge news in that aspect, he has been working out on his own for the last few months.
Cowboys players who are working back from injury, including DT Osa Odighizuwa (undisclosed), NT Mazi Smith (shoulder), TE Luke Schoonmaker (hamstring), LB DeMarvion Overshown (ACL), TE John Stephens Jr. (ACL) and WR David Durden (ACL), took mental reps at today’s OTA practice. pic.twitter.com/sciGQqWN4B
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 22, 2024
Why Was Osa Named?
Osa Odighizuwa was named Cowboy’s most underrated player because anyone who watches this football team understands what he does.
He only managed three sacks in 2023, but that isn’t his strong suit. He has never finished a season with more than four.
However, he finished the season as the 15th-highest-graded interior defensive lineman with the 12th-best PFF pass-rush grade.
If I had to guess, his sack numbers will probably be better this season, but they don’t need him to be a double-digit guy.
Touchdown Wire was the site to name him underrated, but Pro Football Focus also named him a “secret superstar,” earlier this year after the season came to an end.
"They're just doubling down and betting on what we have in the building.”
Dallas #Cowboys DT Osa Odighizuwa responds to the criticism about the "lack of " offseason moves for Dallas 🗣️ @Osagoeshard @heykaydams pic.twitter.com/rpPquFCapM
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 15, 2024
Whether he’s playing in the B-gaps or over the tackles, Odighizuwa has become a consistent, dynamic pressure creator who’s especially conversant with taking interior offensive linemen, walking them back into the pocket, and dumping them on the ground on the way to the quarterback.
2024 Is A Contract Year
With a new defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer and Osa being in a contract year, he needs to deliver his career season in 2024.
Odighizuwa was a recent guest on Up & Adams with Kay Adams and was asked about the contractual status of Prescott, Lamb, Parsosn, and himself.
“The way I see it… they’re going to let everyone do what they’ve got to do this year and then let the chips fall where they may,” he said. “I don’t really control who gets paid, all I can do is control how I play and then hopefully that’s going to result in what I want which would be a second deal with Dallas. I’m just going to control what I can control in that regard.”
Loved that answer from him, you can check out the entire YouTube video with him here.
Odighizuwa is another 3-tech who can get after the quarterback with his speed but isn’t known as an excellent run defender.
So if he does not prove enough this year to warrant a new deal, this team may lose another defender on the line.
Dallas Cowboys pulled up for Game 4 🙌
Osa Odighizuwa, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs pic.twitter.com/lpaxcO5IN5
— NBA (@NBA) May 29, 2024
Enough Depth?
They lost Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Johnathan Hankins, and Neville Gallimore. It will look a lot different than a year ago.
The starters will be DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, Osa, and Mazi Smith. The only depth they now have is Sam Williams and Chauncey Golston.
They will have a few rookies and backend guys, but if someone gets hurt they may be in more trouble than we think.
Williams may even still face some problems with his off-the-field issues. The loss of Hankins is going to hurt this team a lot more than people think.
We will see how this team can handle the tough schedule early. They finish the year with 90% of their games at home, so that will help, but they have to be ready for a tough slate. They are going to be tested.
I still think they should try and add a guy like Calais Campbell who doesn’t need to be a game changing player anymore. He can come in and end his career being a solid defender still.
He played in all 17 games with the Falcons and even racked up 6.5 sacks as an older edge rusher.
