Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged the team’s error in allowing cornerback Jourdan Lewis to depart last offseason. Lewis signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March 2025, leaving the Cowboys seeking improvement in their nickelback position.
On Friday, Jones admitted that releasing Lewis was a misstep for Dallas, highlighting the team’s need to learn from these personnel decisions to strengthen their roster moving forward.
“Let our nickel(back) get out of here last year,” Jones said. “We have a little more appreciation for where we are at nickel or aren’t at nickel. You wouldn’t get out this year, ma’am, that’s how you learn right there.”
Jourdan Lewis’ Impact with the Jaguars in First Season
Lewis, drafted by Dallas in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, contributed eight seasons to the Cowboys before signing with Jacksonville. In his debut season with the Jaguars, Lewis recorded 39 tackles, including 21 solo stops, along with 10 passes defended, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. His performance was instrumental in helping Jacksonville secure the AFC South title.
Despite Lewis’ contributions, the Jaguars were eliminated in the playoffs after a narrow 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills, ending their postseason run prematurely.
Cowboys Prepare for 2026 NFL Draft with Multiple First-Round Picks
The Dallas Cowboys are set to have two first-round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, selecting at No. 12 and No. 20 overall. This will mark the first time since 2008 that Dallas holds more than one first-round selection, underscoring the team’s urgent efforts to rebuild and address key roster needs after consecutive seasons without playoff appearances.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys placed wide receiver George Pickens under the franchise tag on Friday, emphasizing their focus on retaining core offensive talent despite recent struggles.
Implications for Dallas and Their Future Prospects
The decision to let Jourdan Lewis leave continues to loom over the Cowboys as they seek to rebound from back-to-back seasons missing the playoffs. Jones’ public admission signals a readiness to rethink personnel strategies and acknowledges the necessity of learning from past mistakes to fortify the team’s defensive backfield.
With multiple first-round picks in the approaching draft and a commitment to retaining key players like Pickens, Dallas is poised for significant roster changes that could shape their trajectory for the 2026 NFL season and beyond.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged that it was a mistake to not re-sign nickel CB Jourdan Lewis last year pic.twitter.com/Gk4neIgzkd
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 28, 2026
