Jerry Jones and his Cowboys are doing quite a ‘grazing’ off camera this offseason. They want to rebuild the roster and finally end that Super Bowl drought that’s been hanging over their heads for decades. Jerry’s son or you may say, director of personnel & CEO, Stephen Jones has recently confirmed that they’d be keeping key free agents like Rico Dowdle, Chauncey Golston, and Jourdan Lewis. Stephen had more to add, apart from this list, there is another name that the Cowboys have kept on “priority”. And it’s not Micah Parsons!

Yep, they’re looking to extend defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, a homegrown talent who has become a “priority” in their free-agent plans. Cowboys want to keep Osa Odighizuwa because he’s been a solid force on their defensive line. Since being drafted in the third round in 2021, he’s consistently improved. In the 2024 season, he had 25 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble, now he’s a key player in their run defense and pass rush. Apart from Osa, big contract extensions for stars like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are part of the plan. You know it’s kinda tough to keep their priority-free agents and then manage the cap. But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Jerry and Stephen Jones. They’ve been in the game long enough to know that every decision counts, and they’re ready to play their cards right.

Last season was a rough one for the Cowboys, they didn’t even make the playoffs, thanks to plenty of injuries. So, this offseason isn’t just about signing new talent; it’s about making some smart moves to ensure they don’t end up in the same boat again. Finishing with a lackluster record of 7-10, they struggled to find their footing. Injuries played a major role, sidelining key players and disrupting team chemistry. Their home performance was especially dismal, with a 2-7 record at AT&T Stadium. Interestingly the away record was somewhat better with 5-3. The Cowboys scored 350 points throughout the season, with 20.6 pts per game, but their defense allowed a huge 468 points or 27.5 points per game. Now with their latest signing of Matt Eberflus as the defensive coordinator, all eyes are on the spearhead Micah Parsons.

Matt Eberflus roots for Micah Parsons

Stephen Jones has now made it clear how important Parsons is. He said, “I don’t think anyone’s ever underestimated Micah’s value in terms of what he can bring. From the day he walked in the door, he’s been one of those [guys who] when he’s rolling, it’s a problem for the other guys and they got to find him.” Yep, Parsons is a game-changer, and Eberflus’ job is to make sure they use that to their advantage. The Cowboys are betting big on Eberflus to get the best out of Micah Parsons. Eberflus’ aggressive defense style should help Parsons, but the numbers this season aren’t on his side.

Parsons had a bit of a tough season compared to some other top-linebackers. Guys like Zaire Franklin and Zack Baun were better at solo tackles. Parsons, on the other hand, had only 30 solo tackles and 2.5 sacks. Meanwhile, Franklin had 93 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks, and Baun wasn’t too far behind with 92 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks, plus 5 forced fumbles. Parsons’ numbers might look a bit low, but let’s not forget the injuries and challenges the Cowboys faced.

Eberflus is back in Dallas with a fresh perspective. He previously worked with the Cowboys as a linebackers coach and pass game coordinator. After that, he moved to the Colts and then the Bears. The team trusts him to boost their defense, which struggled last season due to injuries and inconsistent play. The Cowboys are counting on him to handle the challenge and get the most out of Parsons. But, they need to sort out Parsons’ contract as he’s in the final year of his rookie deal. They gotta make it work under the salary cap, you know? With the NFL salary cap projected to be $275 million, the Cowboys are already slightly over the cap with $285 million in contract commitments. If they somehow manage to do all of this then they are pretty much prepared for the next season.