While the Dallas Cowboys are still mathematically alive to make the playoffs this season, they should realistically start to turn their attention to next year. One more loss will all but knock Dallas out of the playoff race, proving the mid-season hole they dug themselves was too deep to climb out of.

With the future in mind, today we look at two impending free agents the Cowboys should prioritize bringing back at season’s end.

1) WR Brandin Cooks

2024 has been a rough season for veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The 31-year-old, who Dallas traded for two offseasons ago, has battled a knee injury and infection all season, limiting him to playing in just five games.

Before Cook’s stint on IR, he did not look like the same player we saw last season. In Dallas’ first four games of the season, Cooks caught just nine passes for 91 yards and one touchdown. The veteran lacked the speed and elusiveness we saw during his first season as a Cowboy, and it was clear he was not close to 100%.

After missing seven games, Cooks returned to the lineup on Thanksgiving Day against the Giants. The 11-year-pro did not light up the stat sheet, catching just three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown, but two of his receptions turned out to be arguably the most pivotal plays of the entire game.

Cooks’ final catch of the day came on third and two after the two-minute warning, sealing a Cowboys’ victory.

There’s a decent chance he won’t be back to 100% at all this season, but Cooks showed in his first game back he’s clearly still capable of bringing value to Dallas’ offense.

The veteran wideout is a free agent at season’s end, but the Cowboys would be smart to make sure his time in Dallas does not end after this year. While he will turn 32 at the start of next season, Cooks is still a reliable weapon for a Cowboys’ team that doesn’t have very much offensive firepower.

If Dallas were to bring Cooks back, it would allow them to focus on other needs with their top picks in the draft. The Cowboys could sure up their offensive or defensive line with their first two picks, and draft a receiver in the third or fourth round to pair with Cooks, Lamb, Tolbert, and Mingo.

Spotrac projects Cooks to earn a one-year, $5.2M deal this offseason. If the Cowboys can retain Cooks for anything close to that number, bringing him back on a one- or two-year deal seems like a no-brainer.

2) DT Osa Odighizuwa

26-year-old defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa tends to be the forgotten man in Dallas’ defense. The UCLA product is currently playing out the final six games of his rookie contract after being selected in the third round back in 2021.

While he hasn’t been an All-Pro, Odighizuwa has consistently been a solid member of Dallas’ defensive unit. This season, Odighizuwa is on pace to set career-highs in total pressures (40), QB hurries (27), and sacks (5).

While Odighizuwa isn’t as important to Dallas’ defense as guys like Micah Parsons or DeMarcus Lawrence, with the state of the Cowboys’ interior defensive line bringing him back should be a top priority.

Second-year defensive tackle Mazi Smith has shown a few positive signs this season but is still a ways away from being a consistent difference-maker. If Dallas were to let Odighizuwa walk, they would almost force themselves into once again spending one of the first two draft picks on a defensive tackle.

Even if they were to get Odighizuwa back Dallas would still need help at defensive tackle, but having a solid starter locked up for the foreseeable future would allow the Cowboys some much-needed flexibility with all the holes elsewhere on their roster.

Odighizuwa has produced enough to earn himself a multi-year deal likely in the range of $9/$10M a season. The Cowboys would be wise to offer him a two- or three-year deal to keep him in Dallas and avoid having to completely overhaul the defensive tackle position once again.