Don't look now, but the Dallas Cowboys are fixing to have to make some really tough decisions regarding their current stable of cornerbacks. Byron Jones, Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown, and Jourdan Lewis are all entering contract years in either 2019 or 2020. What the future holds for them with the Cowboys organization is anybody's guess as of right now.
Byron Jones has without a doubt emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and should cash in at the end of the 2019 season when his rookie contract with the Cowboys expires. There has already been quite a bit of discussion regarding whether or not Dallas should retain him long-term or not, but there's no doubt in my mind he's deserving.
Unfortunately, deserving or not, Byron Jones may be at the bottom of the pecking order when contract extensions start getting handed out. The Dallas Cowboys still have to extend Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Jaylon Smith. Jones is certainly in the mix, but Dallas has yet to let it be known how big of a priority he is to re-sign.
Like I mentioned earlier though, Byron Jones is just one of the Cowboys CBs entering the final year of their rookie contracts this year or the next. Dallas certainly has some tough decisions regarding the future of the CB position. There's no easy way to determine who stays and who goes, but deciding what to do with Jones is the best place to start.
Here's a look at the current cornerbacks on the Dallas Cowboys roster, including the current drafted an undrafted additions, plus those on the practice squad:
| PLAYER | JERSEY # | HT | WT | AGE | EXP. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Jones | 31 | 6'0 | 205 | 26 | 5 |
| Chidobe Awuzie | 24 | 6'0 | 202 | 23 | 3 |
| Anthony Brown | 30 | 5'11” | 196 | 25 | 4 |
| Jourdan Lewis | 27 | 5'10” | 195 | 23 | 3 |
| Michael Jackson | 33 | 6'1″ | 210 | 22 | R |
| C. J. Godwin | 29 | 6'3″ | 190 | 29 | 4 |
| Chris Westry | ? | 6'4″ | 199 | ? | R |
| Treston Decoud | 34 | 6'2″ | 205 | 25 | 2 |
| Donovan Olumba | 32 | 6'2″ | 205 | 23 | 1 |
There's really no easy way to go about deciding the fate of the cornerbacks with expiring contracts these next couple years. A lot of things have to go into making these kind of decisions and it's not all about the players themselves. The coaching staff has a lot to do with it and there's a lot of uncertainty there as well.
Head Coach Jason Garrett is also entering the final year of his contract with no indication he will receive an extension anytime soon. That puts all of his coaching staff in jeopardy of losing their jobs if he's not retained, including Kris Richard. It may be unwise to invest in players that may not fit in a new coaching staff's scheme.
As you can see, the Dallas Cowboys may be in a holding pattern in regards to the future of the cornerback position. A lot of things have to be ironed out and it's doubtful any decisions are made until after the completion of the 2019 season. The picture should be much clearer by then, at least that's the hope anyways.
