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Potential Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers free agency target Joseph Ossai
The 2026 NFL offseason is about to begin and the Dallas Cowboys are going to be a team to watch.
As usual, Jerry Jones and company are heading into the offseason surrounded by rumors. After missing out on the playoffs in 2025, the Cowboys clearly need to make some moves in order to get the franchise back on track.
With that being said, Dallas does have some financial flexibility and an extra first-round pick. The trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers helped open up the Cowboys’ ability to be more free this offseason.
One area of need for Dallas will be trying to help replace the void that trading Parsons left. In order to improve the defense, the Cowboys will need to improve their pass rush.
Heading into free agency, it has been predicted that Dallas could battle with the San Francisco 49ers for an intriguing free agent pass rusher.
Cowboys, 49ers Set for Potential NFL Free Agency Battle
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport suggested that both the Cowboys and 49ers could be potential free agency suitors for veteran pass rusher Joseph Ossai.
“Ossai is entering the prime of his career, and among edge-rushers who aren’t going to command a big contract in 2026, he is the best bet to have a coming-out party in a new home,” Davenport wrote.
Ossai would be an excellent addition for Dallas or any other team that needs pass rushing help. He isn’t a superstar by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s a quality player.
During the 2025 NFL season with the Cincinnati Bengals, the 25-year-old defensive end played in 14 games for the Bengals. He racked up 43 total tackles to go along with five sacks and two forced fumbles.
Throughout his first four seasons to begin his career, Ossai has totaled 116 tackles, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three defended passes in 61 games.
What Would It Take for Jerry Jones & the Cowboys to Sign Ossai?
While Dallas does have some room to make moves financially, the team won’t be able to spend extremely freely. The Cowboys will need to be smart with their budget.
Ossai isn’t going to come extremely cheap, but he won’t break the bank either. He’s the kind of bargain free agent that Dallas should be looking for this offseason.
Spotrac has revealed their projections for Ossai’s market value. They currently believe that he will command around $9.2 million per season and have projected a potential framework of a four-year, $36.7 million contract.
If that is indeed the price range, both the Cowboys and San Francisco would be wise to consider pursuing him. He’s not going to be a one-move fix for any team, but he brings a quality and valuable skill-set to the field to help improve any team’s defense.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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