Mailbag: Do Cowboys need new leaders? 

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

With the departures of Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and Jourdan Lewis, the Cowboys have seemingly lost a lot of locker room leadership. But I'm wondering if that's a good thing. No disrespect to them, but maybe some new voices are needed for this team to take the next step. What do you think? And who do you think could now step up into those leadership roles? – Tim Everson/Ft. Worth, TX

Patrik: It's only a good thing if it's a good thing, and you can definitely read between the lines there when looking at the current state of social affairs from one of the three you named, Tim. The leadership of Zack Martin and Jourdan Lewis is not easily replaced, and that's saying the least, because they both were looked upon as not only impact players on the field but also impactful mentors in the locker room who commanded respect and demanded the standard be met, and with no excuses for when it's not. Whomever steps into those shoes will have to check all of the above boxes so, no, it's not always good to have new leadership if in fact the leadership you're losing is outstanding. But, that said, it does give an opportunity for others to step up and show what they can do and, if they take full advantage of that opportunity, it can ultimately be viewed as a consequential positive — in that you might've never known who the next great leader was if the incumbent great leader(s) was (were) still around. Next man up, indeed.

Nick: This team needs better players, period. It's not that I don't agree with the premise of leadership, but I think that stems from the guys who are the better players. I've seen guys that know how to give the rah-rah speeches and all that, but they weren't the best players on the field sometimes or not the most consistent. And with that, it's hard to be a true leader of the locker room when you've got your own troubles as well.

As for the guys you mentioned, some of them were good leaders in their own way. But I don't think they are guys that can't be replaced from that standpoint. When I think of those three specifically, I don't immediately think "leadership" and how are they going to replace it. What I want to know is ... who's going to be that rock-steady guard that can be a fixture on the O-line for a decade like Martin? Who's going to make that tackle for loss on a key third-down like D-Law? And who's going to be the slot cornerback, one of the hardest positions on this team. J-Lew manned it for years.

That's what needs to be replaced. Sure, leadership is important but I think you've got that with Dak. You've got that with defensive players like Micah and Osa, who both lead in their own ways. I don't know if you would call Micah a natural leader but he's the best player on the team in my opinion. The things he does on the field isn't a bad thing for the players to follow. Yes, leadership is important, but the production on the field is what has to be replaced.