Osa Odighizuwa could have his best season yet in 2025.
Osa Odighizuwa has ascended every season since he was drafted in 2021. That culminated in his best effort last season as he put up career highs in tackles (47), sacks (4.5), quarterback hits (23), pressures (60), and hurries (39). Also, 78.5 pass-rush grade per Pro Football Focus was 11th amongst all defensive linemen.
This led to Odighizuwa cashing in with a four-year deal worth $80 million. Of course, that comes with even more expectations for him going into his fifth season, and he’ll be under his third different defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus. It’s only the spring, but according to Odighizuwa, he’s already seeing ways he can be even better under the guidance of Eberflus.
Just based on some of the things we’re being asked to do right now, I was going back and watching some of the tape from last year and I’m like, ‘If I was doing the stuff we’re being coached to do now, I’m making this play, I’m making that play.’ Just seeing there are going to be a lot more opportunities based on the stuff he’s having us do.
Eberflus isn’t into blitzing a lot in his scheme. He prefers to get pressure with four down linemen and drop seven into coverage. That means the defensive line has to be in tune, and per Eberflus, the 3-technique is the engine of his scheme. So, that means Odighizuwa has to be even more of a disruptive force in the middle and use his strength and leverage from his wrestling background to cause chaos.
Things will be a little different for Odighizuwa and the rest of the defensive line with veteran DeMarcus Lawrence not being on the roster. He was the Cowboys’ best run defender for years and the elder statesman in the room and that will have to be replaced. The Cowboys did add a few veterans in free agency on the defensive line, although they weren’t huge needle-movers. However, Odighizuwa doesn’t think the leadership aspect will be an issue.
Having him gone definitely puts a little bit more on me and Micah Parsons’ plate just as far as leadership and leading by example, but we’ve got good vets in there too. Solomon Thomas came in, Dante Fowler’s been here before, and they’ve been doing it for a long time as well, so we got good leadership in the room.
Odighizuwa taking his game to the next level will have a positive effect on the entire defense. It will give guys like Parsons and Fowler more one-on-one opportunities and help keep linebackers clean for them to make plays, which ultimately makes things easier on the secondary as well.
All eyes will be on Odighizuwa now that he has his financial security. Based on history, he’ll continue to elevate his game and make the Cowboys a better unit overall defensively.
