“We’re working to get a deal done with Osa,” Jerry Jones declared last week. His voice? Tinged with the kind of urgency usually reserved for fourth-and-goal in the playoffs. But here’s the crunch: The Dallas Cowboys’ front office just got handed a financial Hail Mary that’s got fans sweating like a kicker in a blizzard.

Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa—a 26-year-old wrecking ball with 172 tackles and 15.5 sacks over four seasons—is staring down a franchise tag worth $25.1M. Problem is, his market value? A cool $63M over three years. Let that sink in.

Picture this: It’s 2021, and a third-round pick named Odighizuwa—pronounced Oh-dee-gih-zoo-uh (rolls off the tongue like a Lambeau Leap)—strolls into Dallas with the quiet confidence of a guy who once wrestled opponents into submission back at UCLA. Fast-forward four seasons, and he’s become the Cowboys’ ironman, playing 67 straight games while evolving into a pocket-crushing maestro.

In 2024 alone, he racked up career highs in sacks (4.5) and QB hits (23), anchoring a defense that, let’s be real, needed all the help it could get. But here’s where the plot thickens: The Cowboys’ front office is caught between loyalty and leverage. Slapping the franchise tag on Osa buys time, but it’s like trying to stop Derrick Henry with a shoestring tackle.

As one NFC exec quipped, “If Osa hits free agency? He’s not just leaving Dallas—he’s taking half their defensive identity with him.” And Jerry knows it. The man who once compared building a team to “assembling a symphony” now faces a dissonant chord: pay the piper or watch him march to a richer tune.

Osa’s not just stats on a sheet, though. He’s the guy who credits his wrestling roots for his NFL success, saying, “Fight pressure with pressure—that’s wrestling 101.” Off the field, he’s the teammate who’ll shout out his crew on Instagram (“We stuck together through adversity and still had fun”) and the dude who, back in Week 3 of his rookie year, sacked Philly’s QB 1.5 times like he’d been doing it since Pop Warner. But in the NFL, nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills.

Micah Parsons: The $100M sidekick Jones can’t afford to lose!

Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows like Batman waiting for his signal, Micah Parsons—the Cowboys’ human cheat code—is eyeing a payday that could redefine “non-QB money.” Fresh off a 12-sack season (tying him with legends like Reggie White), Parsons isn’t just chasing quarterbacks; he’s chasing history. And Jerry? He’s trying to juggle cap space like Tom Brady dodges pass rushers.

Let’s rewind: Parsons, drafted 12th overall in 2021, arrived with the swagger of a guy who knew he’d own the league. Four Pro Bowls, 52.5 sacks, and one iconic quote (“I wanna get me some, too”) later, he’s the face of a defense that’s more “bend-but-don’t-break” than “Steel Curtain.” But here’s the kicker: Dallas can’t afford to let him sniff free agency. With a fifth-year option paying him $24M in 2025, negotiations have started, but Parsons wants “Sooner rather than later”—a not-so-subtle nudge to Jerry’s wallet.

The Cowboys’ offseason strategy? “Selectively aggressive,” per VP Stephen Jones. Translation: “We’ll spend, but only if it’s on our terms.” The problem is, Micah’s terms likely start where Nick Bosa’s $170M deal left off. And with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb already eating cap space like Thanksgiving leftovers, Dallas is dancing on a salary cap tightrope. Lose Parsons, and it’s not just a roster hole—it’s a canyon.

So where does America’s Team go from here? Tag Osa, pay Micah, and pray the cap gods smile? Or let one walk, risking a fan revolt? Jerry’s playing 4D chess here, but the clock’s ticking louder than a play-clock alarm.

With the March 12 free agency deadline fast approaching, let’s remember the Cowboys’ legacy isn’t solely defined by the dazzling jerseys and superstar players. It’s a rich tapestry of triumphs, struggles, and the enduring spirit of ‘America’s Team’. It’s gritty defenders like Osa, who’ve turned “fight pressure with pressure” into a lifestyle. And generational talents like Micah, who treat every snap like it’s their last. Lose either, and Dallas isn’t just losing players—they’re losing their soul. In the words of every Cowboys fan ever: “How ‘bout them contract negotiations?”