Jourdan Lewis signs massive contract with Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to a three-year, $30-million deal with cornerback Jourdan Lewis, per ESPN. The former Dallas Cowboys standout is guaranteed $20 million, making him the highest-paid Nickel in NFL history, per Josina Anderson.

Lewis has spent all eight of his seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys. In the 2024-25 campaign, he recorded a career-high 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception.

Jourdan Lewis’ deal with the Jaguars is a massive pay raise. He’s never earned more than $5 million annually in his career. Now, he’ll double that number on a yearly basis.

Lewis is a relatively low injury risk. He’s only suffered one serious injury during his NFL career. In the 2022 season, Lewis underwent season-ending surgery after suffering a foot fracture. However, the injury has not kept Lewis sidelined again since.

Lewis will be missed in Dallas. On Monday, DallasCowboys.com staff writer Patrik Walker discussed Lewis’ impact in Dallas.

“Every team in the NFL wants to establish the right culture within their locker room and, for the Cowboys, Lewis became the epitome of what that should look like,” Walker wrote. “… Lewis helped carry a team and locker room who was often in dire straits throughout the season — a fiery, vocal mentor and leader who commands respect and who turned a one-year, prove-it deal into something much more substantive in this year’s free agency.”

The Jaguars need all the help they can get on defense. Jacksonville’s defense allowed 389.9 yards per game last season, the second-most in the NFL. Moreover, they allowed the most passing yards per game in the league.

The Jaguars’ decision to sign Lewis is obviously a step to address this issue. Lewis won’t be the only fresh face in Jacksonville next season. In February, the organization officially named Liam Coen its next head coach. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan is confident in the hire.

“With the lack of success we’ve had here, certainly with the last year and a half, it’s a chance for reflection for me,” Khan said at Coen’s introductory press conference. “What was the fundamental thing we need to address? And the number No. 1 obviously is the quarterback position.

“Our commitment to Trevor is well-known,” Khan continued. “That was the fundamental question to all the candidates: how would they do it? And after we got done with that, it was very evident to me that Liam was the guy.”