“Everyone has a clean slate, and they’re just looking at what we’ve done in the past,” said Lewis. “They are looking at the size of the sample they have, to go out and look at us, see the movie and the movements and see what they want to implement in their new defense.”
Of course, it is impossible to ignore the large print on the wall. The Cowboys also took big steps to address the cornerback position in this year’s NFL draft, picking Trevon Diggs 51st overall and then picking Reggie Robinson in the fourth round.
It feels terribly reminiscent of 2017, when the main office did something similar by selecting Awuzie and Lewis in succession with their second and third round picks. Since both veterans are entering the final years of those rookie contracts, it’s a strategy Lewis understands.
“You have to look at it. Byron Jones has just left. It is a huge void to be filled,” he said. “Only one player has played as much as Byron Jones, and that’s Chido. And we’re both on contract now, so it’s obvious that you have to go to the defense and you have to go to the corner.” “
He added: “They see what they have, who is a free agent and who is not. They see that and they take advantage of it. They did a great job. My job is to be the best player I can be for this team.” It is what it is, and you just have to go out there and act. “
It is no secret that NFL headquarters wants its new draft picks to succeed, but Lewis and his counterparts have the benefit of experience. It’s almost surreal that, three years after joining a veteran high school rookie, Lewis and company find themselves in the opposite situation.
“He completely turned around,” he said. “We were the youth who entered, a group of us was recruited, like four or five of us. And now it seems that four or five of them are entering.”
It is fascinating to think how everything is shaken. Maybe Cowboys rookies storm the team, or maybe the veteran experience wins. Perhaps Lewis can take advantage of the opportunity that seemed to elude him during the last regime. And, unfortunately, all of this will unfold as the NFL faces COVID-19, making the situation even more uncertain.
But suffice it to say that when the Cowboys hit the field again, it will look terribly new. And hopefully that’s a good thing.
“We have the right guys to show those guys the ropes,” said Lewis. “I feel like we can definitely be an amazing group if we can all come together and be on the same page.”
