Jourdan Lewis, CB (Dallas Cowboys)
Grade: B+
The Cowboys brought back a solid performer from 2020 in Jourdan Lewis on a three-year deal worth up to $16.5 million, including $8 million in guarantees. Lewis is a former third round pick of the Cowboys in the 2017 draft and had career highs in games started, defensive snaps, and tackles in 2020.
The former Michigan Wolverine has been a good contributor for Dallas since coming in to the league but stepped in to the starting role at slot corner in 2020. He is still just 25 years old and helps round out the current group of young cornerbacks that includes last year’s second round pick Trevon Diggs.
Because of his role as a slot corner, Lewis’s extension keeps the Cowboys in the market for a top-tier outside corner in the draft with many mocks linking them to the top two corners, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley and Patrick Surtain II of Alabama. Others have the Cowboys linked to Florida tight end Kyle Pitts who would be an incredible addition but defense is still the biggest need for Dallas.
This is a low-cost signing for a homegrown player that has developed year over year that still has plenty of room to grow at his position. It is a deal that smart teams often make and keeps a young group trending upward.