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Why Jaguars CB Jourdan Lewis is ready to take on culture-change role with Jacksonville
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- Why Jaguars CB Jourdan Lewis is ready to take on culture-change role with Jacksonville
For Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone , acquiring nickel defensive back Jourdan Lewis via free agency is seen as a coup.
Lewis was one of the most important players the franchise targeted in free agency , not just due to his performance on the field, but also what he brings to the franchise beyond his play.
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Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone: NFL free agency approach 'very disciplined'
"I think you've heard me say the phrase 'intangibly rich' quite a few times, right? That was no different in our approach to pro-free agency," Gladstone said last week.
"It was no different to who it was that we were prioritizing and we sat down with each of those players individually here today, and that sentiment and what we knew them to be, whether it was speaking to us on the film or in our sourced information behind the scenes, these guys are built right and by being nothing more than who they are, we can feel that they're going to level us up."
Lewis, entering his ninth season in the NFL, had been a mainstay with the Dallas Cowboys , primarily operating as the team's nickel cornerback. His overall play and presence on the field dictated Dallas to retain him multiple times through short-term contract extensions.
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This time, though, another team took the bait by the tune of $30 million over three years. The contract makes Lewis the highest-paid nickel defensive back in the NFL. He will get a reported guarantee of $20 million over the lifetime of his deal in Jacksonville and Gladstone beamed when asked about him.
"One of the most exciting elements to Jourdan Lewis is that every offensive coordinator that I've come in contact with has always highlighted him as somebody who they have to account for in their game planning, and when you turn on the film, it's easy to see why," Gladstone began about the 29-year-old defensive back.
"Now, one of the things that we really wanted to do for our defensive backfield is bring a veteran presence with a level of doggedness and toughness that was going to level up our current style of play. Jourdan is somebody who we believe highly in to bring that and offer that skillset to our football team."
And Lewis appears poised to take on that responsibility.
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Jourdan Lewis looks to bring 'knowledge, culture' to the Jaguars
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 15: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a sack against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Lewis isn't the biggest cornerback at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, but what he brings to the gridiron is much larger.
Through eight seasons with the Cowboys after being drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Lewis has played in 115 games (64 starts), totaling 386 tackles (275 solos), 19 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, 10 interceptions and 44 pass breakups. Lewis has played more than 5,000 defensive snaps in the NFL.
His penchant for being around the football has been lauded and his aggressive play celebrated by observers.
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"We were talking about just building a culture and being a cornerstone of that rebuild. And I've always wanted to be a guy known for a culture and be known to change culture," Lewis said at his introductory press conference last week.
"So I love a good competition, and I love a good challenge. So I feel like this was the perfect place for me to go out there and show that I belong in this NFL and belong to be known as one of the guys that changed the culture."
Lewis hopes his contagious personality on the field, and trash-talking ability can help elevate the defense's personality for the better.
"I am just going out there competing to the best of my ability, going out there, trying to dominate," said Lewis.
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One player Lewis will be competing with is second-year DB Jarrian Jones , who posted an impressive rookie season for Jacksonville last year.
GROWTH: Jacksonville Jaguars' Jarrian Jones wants to 'break every chain' after impressive Year 1
Lewis said he and Jones have worked out together in Dallas. That's when Jones, according to Lewis, told the veteran DB that he knew he would be in Jacksonville and that he needed a vet like him.
"'I don't have a vet, I haven't had any vets,'" Lewis recalled Jones saying to him. "So, then when I signed, he was like, 'Man, I'm willing to do whatever to be successful. Go out there and then have my best year.' So, he's ready, he's hungry, he's accepted whatever type of tips that I have for him. He accepts it. He's listening," said Lewis.
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"You can tell that he's actively listening and he's hungry for it. So, I'm pretty sure the rest of the guys are just like that. I'm just excited to give any knowledge that I can for those guys to be better football players and better men."
Lewis understands change well. He has been through several regime changes in Dallas. Because of that, he says, he's ready to take on the responsibilities required of him to usher through the change.
"I knew that was an opportunity for me to go out there and show people that, in the NFL, that I'm a serious football player and show the Jaguars that you got the right guy," Lewis said.
"So, it was a challenge for me, and I knew that we had the right people in the head, and they're signing the right players to go out there and make change. So, that's what I'm excited about. Go out there and make change, because I'm real familiar with change in Dallas."
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Jourdan Lewis explains decision to leave Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys defends a pass intended for Dyami Brown #2 of the Washington Commanders during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Lewis has only known one team in the NFL since being drafted by Dallas.
Including his four-year rookie deal, Lewis has inked two extensions with the Cowboys to remain with "America's Team."
After playing out his deal with Dallas, Lewis signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the franchise in 2021. He re-signed in 2024 via a one-year, $2.82 million contract. Essentially, Lewis was taking hometown discounts to stay in Dallas. Not anymore.
"It's funny, every offseason I think I am [leaving the Cowboys], but this time it just felt a little different because I had the season I had last year and people started to recognize the type of player I was," said Lewis.
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"So, it couldn't be anymore... couldn't give me just the team-friendly deals anymore. So, that's when I recognized when I had the year and I felt the buzz, I knew that maybe it might be my time to separate."
Perhaps Lewis had a point.
According to NextGenStats, Lewis posted a coverage EPA (Expected Points Added) of -16.6, ranked 15th among all defensive backs last year. He had a CROE (Catch Rate Over Expectation) of just +1.0%, ranked 13th in the league among DBs.
He also posted the best Pro Football Focus coverage grade of his career, 79, which ranked seventh in the league last year among qualified defenders.
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So, the Jaguars made Lewis their top priority in free agency, the veteran DB got paid what he felt he deserved and the franchise's defensive backfield ought to be better because of it.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Jourdan Lewis talks Cowboys decision, Jacksonville's future
