Dallas Cowboys: 3 players feeling the heat to have a big 2020

Here are three Dallas Cowboys coming into the season feeling the heat to perform well

The Dallas Cowboys are coming into the 2020 football season with one of the most talented rosters across the league. They have Pro Bowl talent at about every level of both the offense and defense.

However, there are three specific players who will have pressure to perform well in the upcoming season. These three players all have different reasons for pressure heading into the season. These different reasons include: earning a long-term extension, living up to expectation, and solidifying a starting role on the team.

Dak Prescott, QB

Despite putting up the best statistical season of his career in 2019, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was unable to acquire a long-term contract from the team. He was given the franchise tag and will be playing on a one-year contract worth $31.4 million. Prescott will be playing on another contract year, with the ability to raise or lower his asking price based on his individual and team performance throughout the season.

While Prescott showed he can put up big numbers as a franchise quarterback in the 2019 season, his team underachieved winning just eight games. After the front office fired former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett this offseason and replaced him with Mike McCarthy, fans will not be able to put all the blame on an underperforming year on Garrett next season.

It’s time for Prescott to take this very talented roster deep in the playoffs. This season feels like an NFC championship appearance or bust year for the team.

DeMarcus Lawrence, DE

After accumulating 25.0 total sacks in the 2017 and 2018 seasons for the Cowboys, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence got paid like a premier pass-rusher. In the summer heading into the 2019 season, Lawrence received a five-year, $105 million contract including $65 million guaranteed. Lawrence followed this up by only having 5.0 sacks while starting 16 games for the team in the 2019 season.

There is no denying that Lawrence has an impact on the defense without sacking the quarterback. He is very effective in the run defense and is capable of disrupting an opposing offense’s gameplan. However, Lawrence was paid like a premier pass-rusher and will be expected to reach double-digit sack numbers in the 2020 season.

Jourdan Lewis, CB

With the loss of cornerback Byron Jones this offseason, many fans are looking for cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to ‘breakout’ in the 2020 season as the team’s new number one. However, he is not the cornerback with the most pressure heading into the season. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis is on his contract year and as a weekly rotational corner, he has pressure on him to make that leap as a consistent starting slot cornerback in the 2020 season.

Lewis has become a fan-favorite in the secondary throughout his tenure as a Cowboy. While he may not be a weekly starter, Lewis has shown his worth in the takeaway category. He has accumulated four interceptions and three fumble recoveries through three seasons with the team. With a new defensive coordinator and new defensive backs coach, Lewis will hope to take a leap in production, earning a nice contract in the offseason.