As we inch closer to the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys have tried to keep us on our toes. A lot of what we have talked about has been about either the Micah Parsons drama or the contract situation with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
I know the one thing I have talked about the most is the front office and how they continue to not get things done ahead of schedule and make us crazy.
So how about we transition from all the negative energy and talk about some players who I think are underappreciated? Players that don’t get enough flowers for putting their head down and doing their job flawlessly.
Let me again start by saying these are my players. You don’t have to agree, and if you want to drop yours, let me hear it.
Jourdan Lewis
The first one for me is Jourdan Lewis. This is a guy who just does his job every year and works his tail off. For most of his career, he has been an afterthought to others in front of him, and it will be the same in 2024.
This team has two all-pro corners. Lewis will again roll into this year as the guy who many forget about. He is a good slot corner who plays with great toughness.
Lewis appeared in 16 regular season games and started eight in the 2023 season. He had 52 total tackles (36 solo), one interception, five passes defended, and three forced fumbles
He forced three fumbles last year. He is not Trevon Diggs or DaRon Bland providing flashy highlights, but if the Cowboys need a big tackle to help save a first down late in the game, look for Jourdan Lewis.
Bryan Anger
How about maybe the best punter in football? He does not get the love he deserves either. The All-Pro P Bryan Anger has the highest net yards-per-punt average in Cowboys history.
He also holds the record for the longest punt of any active punter in the league — an 83-yard punt against the Chicago Bears.
Anger is always a bonus to have when you are in tight games and things don’t work out. We can always count on him to flip the field.
Kickers and punters are people too.
He needs his love before the season starts because he will be a huge factor for this team once again. The Cowboys may have the best kicker/punter combo in the entire NFL heading into 2024 with what Brandon Aubrey did last season.
Brandin Cooks
I don’t think many understand how much worse off this team would be without a guy like Brandin Cooks. He is no longer the top pass-catching option on the field. That said, he’s kept his per-catch mark above 12 yards over the past two seasons.
Here is the crazy thing: Cooks has never been an All-Pro or even made the Pro Bowl with six 1,000-yard seasons.
With this being Cook’s second full year in the Cowboys offense, he should get close to eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2024. With CeeDee Lamb still holding out, Cooks being around to hold up the younger players will be key during training camp.
This team has plenty of others that could be on the list, but these three jump off the screen for me.
Guys like Tyler Smith do not get talked about enough for the job he’s done on the offensive line. Role-depth players like Sam Williams could also be worth a mention.
The last few months are going to feel like a lifetime if this team does not sign CeeDee Lamb. He needs to be here, but guys like Cooks, Lewis, and Anger will help for now.