Is there a bigger disconnect between fan perception and coach perception than that of cornerback Jourdan Lewis?
The Cowboys cornerback has been a fan favorite since entering the league, winning Cowboys Nation over with his competitiveness and ability to create turnovers from the get-go. He's had trouble finding consistent playing time, however, falling down the depth chart in part due to Kris Richard's love for longer and taller cornerbacks.
Initially playing on the outside during his rookie year, Richard immediately moved Byron Jones down from safety and pushed Lewis to the inside of the defense. This was a godsend for Jones' career, but not so much for Lewis'.
Lewis quickly fell behind Anthony Brown for the starting slot cornerback role, but due to injury was able to showcase his abilities during 2019. Lewis filled up the stat sheet last season with four sacks, six pass breakups, and two interceptions.
Now Lewis enters a contract year for a team which is in the process of spending a whole lot of money on other players, and just drafted two cornerbacks in the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Jourdan Lewis spoke to DallasCowboys.com earlier this week, saying he was looking forward to a clean slate with this new defensive coaching staff.
“And they said that everybody has a clean slate. It doesn't matter how big, tall, how long you've been here, it doesn't matter. If you can play ball they want to see you in that position to go and compete for that job” – Jourdan Lewis.
Yet defensive backs coach Al Harris told that same DallasCowboys.com that he values length in cornerbacks, and implied the team was looking for length when drafting both Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson II this year.
All of this may mean one thing: Jourdan Lewis could have a completely clean slate in 2021, with a nice pay day for another franchise during free agency.
