Top free-agent signing Jourdan Lewis quickly makes himself at home with Jaguars

Adding cornerback help in free agency was a priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. That's why it wasn't particularly shocking that they signed Jourdan Lewis. What was a bit surprising is that they signed a player who's mostly lined up in the slot when they needed a starter in the boundaries opposite Tyson Campbell. However, a closer look shows why the Jags made the right call.

When Jacksonville locked up Lewis, the expectation was that he would line up in the slot, and sophomore Jarrian Jones would move outside. However, James Gladstone says that's not the case, pointing out that the veteran cornerback can play in the boundaries and gives the coaching staff ample versatility.

"One of the things that we're valuing is versatility, and with both of those guys, we feel like they have the flexibility to play both inside and out," Gladstone responded when asked what the plan is for Jones and Lewis. "I think we'll see how that takes shape over the course of this offseason and then the beginning of next season. But between the two of them, both of them are players that we find value in, and just the versatility between the two of them allows us a little bit more flexibility."

Earlier in the exchange, Gladstone steated that Lewis' competiveness and on-field performance made him a fit in Jacksonville.

"One of the most exciting elements to Jordan Lewis is that every offensive coordinator that I've come in contact with has always highlighted him as somebody that they have to account for in their game planning. And when you turn on the film, it's easy to see why. 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, and Jordan's somebody who we believe highly in, to bring that and offer that skill set to our football team," Gladstone said.

Lewis signed a one-year, $2.8 million deal to return to the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. He went on to have a career season, holding his opponents to three or fewer receptions in 10 of the 16 games he played. If that wasn't enough, he gave up a staggering 0.5 yards per catch out of the slot, tied for the sixth-best in the NFL.

When you add it all up, it's easy to see why the Jags gave him a three-year deal worth $30 million in free agency. Below's Gladstone's full exchange with the press corps. His remarks about the veteran cornerback start at the 0:31 mark.

Related story: Grades for every player the Jaguars sign in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Jaguars fans will love Jourdan Lewis' feisty attitude and competive nature

Not long after joining the Jags, Lewis wasted no time talking about how a clip of John Henderson getting slapped resonated more now than ever.

The clip of Henderson originally got the spotlight on Hard Knocks. Given how physical Lewis is, it's easy to see why he feels identified. But wait, there's more.

The former Michigan Wolverine has been active on Twitter, often responding to posts about him and interacting with fans. 1010 XL posted a clip about how the Jaguars planned to use him, and he disagreed with the analysis, pointing out that all they needed to do was watch the tape.

Not long after, Lewis talked about what he brings to the table, pointing out that he was the highest-rated slot cornerback in the NFL. When questioned about it, he had the following to say, "This is my problem. This [expletive] is recorded and filmed [expletive] are you talking about "claim to be" for????????"

As you can see, Jourdan Lewis brings much-needed swagger to the Jaguars and offers immediate help in the defensive backfield. However you look at it, that makes him a great acquisition.

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