The Cowboys’ priority going into free agency was to retain defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
Next on the list was corner Jourdan Lewis.
Surprisingly, Lewis was the one who proved to be too rich for the club’s tastes. Now, Dallas finds itself in a bind in the secondary.
The NFL’s soft opening to free agency — players can agree to deals but not officially sign until Wednesday — got underway Monday morning. The Cowboys agreed to a contract with Odighizuwa last week to prevent him from reaching the starting line.
Lewis was a different matter. The veteran got to the open market and was rewarded with a reported three-year, $30 million deal from Jacksonville, making him the highest-paid nickel corner in the sport. The guarantee was $20 million.
Related:Former Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis agrees to terms with Jacksonville Jaguars
As much as the Cowboys wanted to keep Lewis, the club had no interest in trying to keep pace with the Jaguars. Lewis earned roughly $21 million in his eight seasons in Dallas and was coming off a one-year deal that paid him $2.8 million.
Club officials knew it would take a significant increase to keep Lewis. But what he received from Jacksonville put him in a completely different financial zip code.
“God’s timing,‘’ Lewis posted on X Monday afternoon.
An argument can be made that it made fiscal sense to let Lewis walk. Paying that kind of money to a nickel corner that will turn 30 before the season starts is a heavy lift, one that would require a sacrifice at other positions in building this roster.
Still, his departure leaves the Cowboys in a tough spot.
Starting corner Trevon Diggs underwent chondral tissue graft surgery on his left knee earlier this year. Lewis’ departure now means the Cowboys could be forced to open the season without two of their top three corners from this past season.
Owner Jerry Jones said in recent days that Dallas isn’t “looking at free agency to fill voids.‘’ It’s hard to make that claim now that Lewis is gone.
Dallas is left with DaRon Bland, Caelen Carson, Andrew Booth Jr. and Kemon Hall. It could also increase the club’s desire to retain free agent Israel Mukuamu, who played the majority of his limited snaps last season in the slot.
Still, Bland is the only proven starter in the bunch. If the Cowboys don’t dip into the free-agent market to replace Lewis in the coming days, selecting at least one corner in the April draft — arguably in the first two days — becomes imperative.
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Lewis played in all but one game last season. He broke up eight passes, second only to Diggs, and finished fifth on the team with 78 tackles. He had an interception, a fumble recovery and a sack.
The veteran’s value to the Cowboys went beyond those numbers. He’s a tough, dependable player who commands the respect of coaches and teammates. He’s accountable in bad times and is well-liked.
He finishes his Cowboys career with 10 interceptions, 9.5 sacks and nine fumble recoveries. He started 64 of the 115 games he played.
“He’s our starting nickel,‘’ Stephen Jones, the Cowboys chief operating officer and co-owner said at the NFL scouting combine. “We’re interested in getting him back.‘’
The Cowboys were unable to get Lewis back.
Now, they’re desperate to replace him.