Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys cornerback room could see a bit of a shakeup this offseason.
It was an interesting year for the defense of the Dallas Cowboys. With a new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and a slew of injuries, there were plenty of highs and lows. At times during the season, the defense was a hot mess, but things improved as the year progressed.
When you look at the season as a whole, there were some good things...
And there were some bad things...
The injuries took a toll, and no other unit faced more adversity than the cornerback position. The Cowboys' top six cornerbacks all missed time dealing with different injuries. Top six guys! That’s crazy unlucky.
The Cowboys were fortunate to have such a deep group and for most of the season, they weren’t the liability they could have been. It didn’t get messy until they were forced to rely on CB#7 Andrew Booth.
Entering the new season, the Cowboys cornerback group situation is a little murky. They have some good players, but each has its own situation and brings uncertainty for the future. The front office has some tough decisions to make to ensure they are going down the right path as one wrong move can create some real problems later.
It’s weird to say this, but Lewis might have been the Cowboys' top-performing cornerback last season. A fan favorite who plays with great intensity, Lewis has had an interesting career thus far. Multiple coaching staffs have pushed him a bit down the depth chart, but in recent years he’s established himself as a reliable slot corner. The team values his contribution and re-upped him twice as his services haven’t been too expensive (three-year, $13.5 million, and then one-year, $2.82 million).
With Lewis coming off his best season as a pro, he should command a raise this offseason. He did a great job staying in the hip pocket of his receiver and played with a high level of physicality. He showed that he is an asset any defense would love to have. Even with a pay bump coming, the Cowboys should strongly consider giving Lewis his fourth contract as he’s proven a reliable player and a much-needed piece to the cornerback group.
After Carson’s Week 1 performance against the Cleveland Browns, it looked like the Cowboys had an embarrassment of riches at the cornerback position. They had two young All-Pros in Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland, a seasoned veteran in Lewis, and this fifth-round rookie that made people feel like the team landed a gem on Day 3...
