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Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chris Westry spent all of the 2019 season stashed on injured reserve, but this redshirt rookie is looking to get his NFL career off the ground in 2020. The former UDFA was inherited by Mike McCarthy and Mike Nolan, making his task of making this year’s roster even more daunting.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 199 pounds, Westry is an extra-long prospect out of Kentucky. A priority post-draft free agent signing, Westry presents as a starter kit for the modern NFL corner.
Chris Westry wasn’t drafted, but the #Cowboys are signing him to a deal with $100K guaranteed, including a $10K signing bonus, source said. Brings some rare traits to Dallas. https://t.co/hhPBICe9AQ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2019
Chris Westry wakes em up with a 38 vert. pic.twitter.com/pod8pE1MU6
— Jared Peck (@HLpreps) March 22, 2019
A safety in high school, Westry transitioned to cornerback at Kentucky, where he appeared in 51 games over four college seasons, making 34 starts. He totaled 134 tackles (3.5 for loss, two sacks), three interceptions, and forced one fumble. He was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team in 2015, when he recorded 36 tackles, led the team in pass breakups (eight), and notably snapped Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott’s streak of 289 consecutive passes without an interception.
Bet you didn't know the first interception Dak Prescott threw his senior season was to Cowboys practice squad corner Chris Westry: pic.twitter.com/arCvLA1ZCM
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) January 17, 2020
How I'll remember Chris Westry. UK doesn't win at SC in '15 without him. Sack. INT iced win. PBU in end zone. Handled Pharoh Cooper.
Also: Perception isn't reality. Did not peak as freshman. PFF says he improved from '15 to '16 and from '16 to '17.
0 TD passes allowed this yr. pic.twitter.com/YftSBIvQRw
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 13, 2018
Despite not receiving an invite to the NFL Combine, Westry turned heads at KU’s Pro Day, where he ran an unofficial 4.31 40-yard dash. That speed, coupled with Westry’s 33 and 3/4th-length arms, make it easy to see why Cowboys coaches viewed him as a “ball of clay” to mold.
Despite having no ties to the current Dallas coaching staff, the team kept Westry over the similarly big-bodied CB Donovan Olumba, a player who occupied the practice squad for two seasons and made his NFL debut in the 2019 season finale. It’s possible Westry’s presence made Olumba expendable, given Westry is younger, has similar traits, and better fits the Cowboys’ current timeline given how crowded the secondary currently is. It’s unlikely Westry would be called into action in 2020 without any NFL experience, but the investment into his development on the practice squad could eventually be a game-changer in future seasons.
Westry potentially matches up very well against tight ends and bigger, physical wide receivers, two types of players who are utilized with increasing frequency in today’s NFL. Here Westry is as a sophomore power bombing future first rounder Hayden Hurst.
Hayden Hurst tried to hurdle @UKFootball's Chris Westry.
It did not end well: https://t.co/akwvMdZ6lC pic.twitter.com/3RnMCJCCr8
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 25, 2016
While intriguing, there are aspects of Westry’s game that still need work. He’ll need to get acclimated rather quickly after his year-long football layoff, but Westry has enough tools for DMN’s John Owning to name him as one of three long-term projects who could pay huge dividends:
“[Westry] may not have the press-man part down yet, but there aren’t many corners in the entire league with a more impressive size-speed ratio . . . Westry needs significant improvement with his technique in a variety of areas, most notably press technique, pad level and transitional footwork.
Luckily, all those are teachable as long as Westry puts in the work and the Cowboys’ coaching staff has enough patients to allow him to stick around. With another year of seasoning, Westry could legitimately vie for one of the available corner spots on the 2021 roster, when they’re should be more room available.”
Including this wild card waiting in the wings, Dallas has certainly loaded up on cornerbacks in search of a stable for the future. Westry still has a long road ahead of him, but there’s a real chance he has a place on this team in the future. Just keep an out for the shorts on the sideline.
Meet rookie CB Chris Westry. 6’4 and leg definition I work my tail off for at Barry’s Bootcamp. #unfair pic.twitter.com/5gBPcqtR91
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) May 22, 2019
The Cowboys have a bunch of corners on the roster, which makes total sense considering the contract situation they find themselves in. Neither of their 2017 draft picks, Chidobe Awuzie nor Jourdan Lewis, have inked agreements to remain with the team beyond this year. Free-agent signing Daryl Worley was inked for just one year.
So while the club re-signed Anthony Brown and drafted Trevon Diggs in the second round and Reggie Robinson in the third, Westry could see a rotational slot in the near future if he’s able to impress the coaching staff. He’ll be in competition during training camp with Deandre Burton and special teams ace C.J. Goodwin.
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Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 199 pounds, Westry is an extra-long prospect out of Kentucky. A priority post-draft free agent signing, Westry presents as a starter kit for the modern NFL corner.
Chris Westry wasn’t drafted, but the #Cowboys are signing him to a deal with $100K guaranteed, including a $10K signing bonus, source said. Brings some rare traits to Dallas. https://t.co/hhPBICe9AQ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2019
Chris Westry wakes em up with a 38 vert. pic.twitter.com/pod8pE1MU6
— Jared Peck (@HLpreps) March 22, 2019
A safety in high school, Westry transitioned to cornerback at Kentucky, where he appeared in 51 games over four college seasons, making 34 starts. He totaled 134 tackles (3.5 for loss, two sacks), three interceptions, and forced one fumble. He was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team in 2015, when he recorded 36 tackles, led the team in pass breakups (eight), and notably snapped Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott’s streak of 289 consecutive passes without an interception.
Bet you didn't know the first interception Dak Prescott threw his senior season was to Cowboys practice squad corner Chris Westry: pic.twitter.com/arCvLA1ZCM
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) January 17, 2020
How I'll remember Chris Westry. UK doesn't win at SC in '15 without him. Sack. INT iced win. PBU in end zone. Handled Pharoh Cooper.
Also: Perception isn't reality. Did not peak as freshman. PFF says he improved from '15 to '16 and from '16 to '17.
0 TD passes allowed this yr. pic.twitter.com/YftSBIvQRw
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 13, 2018
Despite not receiving an invite to the NFL Combine, Westry turned heads at KU’s Pro Day, where he ran an unofficial 4.31 40-yard dash. That speed, coupled with Westry’s 33 and 3/4th-length arms, make it easy to see why Cowboys coaches viewed him as a “ball of clay” to mold.
Despite having no ties to the current Dallas coaching staff, the team kept Westry over the similarly big-bodied CB Donovan Olumba, a player who occupied the practice squad for two seasons and made his NFL debut in the 2019 season finale. It’s possible Westry’s presence made Olumba expendable, given Westry is younger, has similar traits, and better fits the Cowboys’ current timeline given how crowded the secondary currently is. It’s unlikely Westry would be called into action in 2020 without any NFL experience, but the investment into his development on the practice squad could eventually be a game-changer in future seasons.
Westry potentially matches up very well against tight ends and bigger, physical wide receivers, two types of players who are utilized with increasing frequency in today’s NFL. Here Westry is as a sophomore power bombing future first rounder Hayden Hurst.
Hayden Hurst tried to hurdle @UKFootball's Chris Westry.
It did not end well: https://t.co/akwvMdZ6lC pic.twitter.com/3RnMCJCCr8
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 25, 2016
While intriguing, there are aspects of Westry’s game that still need work. He’ll need to get acclimated rather quickly after his year-long football layoff, but Westry has enough tools for DMN’s John Owning to name him as one of three long-term projects who could pay huge dividends:
“[Westry] may not have the press-man part down yet, but there aren’t many corners in the entire league with a more impressive size-speed ratio . . . Westry needs significant improvement with his technique in a variety of areas, most notably press technique, pad level and transitional footwork.
Luckily, all those are teachable as long as Westry puts in the work and the Cowboys’ coaching staff has enough patients to allow him to stick around. With another year of seasoning, Westry could legitimately vie for one of the available corner spots on the 2021 roster, when they’re should be more room available.”
Including this wild card waiting in the wings, Dallas has certainly loaded up on cornerbacks in search of a stable for the future. Westry still has a long road ahead of him, but there’s a real chance he has a place on this team in the future. Just keep an out for the shorts on the sideline.
Meet rookie CB Chris Westry. 6’4 and leg definition I work my tail off for at Barry’s Bootcamp. #unfair pic.twitter.com/5gBPcqtR91
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) May 22, 2019
The Cowboys have a bunch of corners on the roster, which makes total sense considering the contract situation they find themselves in. Neither of their 2017 draft picks, Chidobe Awuzie nor Jourdan Lewis, have inked agreements to remain with the team beyond this year. Free-agent signing Daryl Worley was inked for just one year.
So while the club re-signed Anthony Brown and drafted Trevon Diggs in the second round and Reggie Robinson in the third, Westry could see a rotational slot in the near future if he’s able to impress the coaching staff. He’ll be in competition during training camp with Deandre Burton and special teams ace C.J. Goodwin.
Continue reading...