Cornerback was a big need for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason, so it wasn't particularly surprising to see them linked to the likes of Carlton Lewis, D.J. Reed, and Byron Murphy. However, they ultimately opted to give Jourdan Lewis a three-year deal worth $30 million.
At the time, the signing of Lewis was a bit odd because the Jags needed a corner who could play opposite Tyson Campbell in the boundaries, and he had mostly manned the slot throughout his career. Looking back, the Jags hit it out of the ballpark.
The former Michigan Wolverine has quickly turned into a staple of the Jacksonville defense, allowing a 25.9 passer rating and just 3.9 yards per target. Similarly, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 80.7 ranks sixth among cornerbacks in the NFL.
Jourdan Lewis as the nearest defender in pass coverage this season after Week 4, per @NextGenStats:
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 30, 2025
🐅 25.9 passer rating allowed
🐅 3.9 yards allowed per target
🐅 0 TD/2 INT
🐅 -24.5% catch rate allowed over expected
Lewis has the lowest passer rating allowed among players… pic.twitter.com/f2iB9BV09W
If that wasn't enough, PFF just recognized how much of a game-changer Jourdan Lewis is by including him on an illustrious list.
Related: The Jags are quietly winning a big offseason trade everyone mocked
Jaguars CB Jourdan Lewis made PFF's First-Team All-Pro team
Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus put together an All-Pro Team after a quarter of the NFL season and gave Jourdan Lewis a First-Team nod. Linebacker Devin Lloyd (first team) and tight end Brenton Strange (second team) also made the cut.
In the same breath, colleague Bradley Locker cited the addition of Lewis as one of the reasons the Jacksonville secondary is having a banner season. In his breakdown, he pointed out that if Lewis and Eric Murray keep playing at a high level, this could be the first year since 2017 that the Jaguars field multiple secondary players who each grade north of a 79.0 score and at least played 500 snaps.
Simply put, the Jags are getting plenty of bang for both Lewis and Murray, who has logged one interception and three passes defensed this season.
The Jaguars need the rest of their cornerback group to step up
While Jourdan Lewis has held his own at nickel, the Jaguars need the rest of their cornerback group to take their game to the next level. Tyson Campbell, in particular, hasn't been dreadful, but he hasn't been great either.
The former Georgia Bulldog is giving up a solid 53.3 percent rate per completion. On the other hand, he's allowing 14.4 yards per catch, meaning that when he surrenders a reception, it's usually a big play.
Travis Hunter, for his part, is still getting acclimated to the pros. He's flashed potential early in the season, but still has his work cut out to live up to his two-way star billing.
The bottom line is that Jourdan Lewis has become a key contributor for the Jaguars, but their defense could be even more dominant if their other cornerbacks improve in the upcoming weeks.