Tag: Jourdan Lewis

Decisions on these in-house contributors will be most significant part of Cowboys offseason

The most significant in-house free agents Dallas has to decide what to do with this offseason. | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys were unhappy with how the 2023 season ended but did little to help change things in 2024. To fix it in 2025, They will need to hit on their draft picks and bring in outside contributors in free agency, but it all begins with how they handle their own players on expiring contracts.

Dallas has 20 unrestricted free agents, and they won’t be able to fill all those losses with undrafted free agents and the 2025 draft class. Who returns and who they move on from will depend on a multitude of factors. A trio of free agents played significant snaps and had productive seasons.

Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been an excellent player for the price of a third-round pick, but in a weak defensive tackle market, his price could skyrocket. Odighizuwa is slightly less productive than Nnamdi Madubuike of the Baltimore Ravens, but his projected market is in that same range. At $20 to $25 million, Odighizuwa won’t be worth the cost for Dallas, and the team will need to use an early draft selection for his replacement.

Cornerback Jourdan Lewis might have priced himself out of Dallas with his play in 2024, but the injury to Treven Diggs might be enough to force the Cowboys’ hand. A multiyear contract will be necessary, and a cap hit of under three million isn’t enough this time. Lewis has shown an ability to perform in multiple defensive schemes, and Jerry Jones will find a way to keep him on the roster, if necessary, as Diggs insurance.

Rico Dowdle was given the role of top running back in Week 12 against the Washington Commanders. In the next six contests, he accumulated 605 yards on 120 attempts, an average of over five yards per carry. Being a 1,000-yard rusher without a ton of tread on his tires could give Dowdle a market, but he isn’t an explosive runner, and he has a lengthy injury history, so his market is unlikely to explode.

Dallas will probably bring him back on a deal similar to what Zack Moss signed last offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals, four to five million a season.

Chauncey Golston has had a breakout season, and while he doesn’t have the gaudy statistics, his play was invaluable for the injury-riddled Cowboys. His ability to stop the run as an edge defender helped the team improve defensively as the season progressed.

Golston is in the top 12 among defensive ends in run defense snaps, solo tackles, assisted tackles, and batted passes. He is in the top 20 in total snaps and run stops. His lack of pass rush will keep him from a huge payday, so if the defensive end market is down some, then it is possible the Cowboys can get him to return. A trade-off of losing Odighizuwa but keeping Lewis and Golston could be the plan for this front office.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social

Amon-Ra St. Brown shared Jourdan Lewis’ NSFW trash talk in his Instagram DMs after Lions’ blowout win

The Cowboys should know better than to mess with Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The Detroit Lions would not relent on Jerry Jones’ pained birthday. They humiliated the Dallas Cowboys with disrespectful trick plays for Penei Sewell, then trolled them for trying to hide the lopsided final 47-9 score after the fact.

But if there’s anyone usually interested in keeping the party going, it’s superstar Detroit receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

After the Lions’ blowout win, St. Brown shared a rather choice Instagram DM from Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis. It features the Dallas defender replying to one of St. Brown’s Instagram stories by trying to tear the playmaker down.

It is at this point where, if you’re Lewis, you just look like a petty, sore loser:

(Warning: NSFW language in the embed below.)

The Dallas Cowboys, everyone! They get embarrassed on national television AND still have the audacity to puff their chests.

Cowboys CB fined more for end-of-game facemask incident than guilty Steelers WR

From @ToddBrock24f7: As the Week 5 game went final, George Pickens yanked Jourdan Lewis to the ground by his facemask. But Lewis received the bigger fine.

Cowboys fans who stayed up all the way until the end of the team’s Week 5 tilt against Pittsburgh saw Steelers wide receiver George Pickens commit an egregious foul against cornerback Jourdan Lewis just after the gun sounded on Dallas’s 20-17 victory.

But nobody saw Lewis being the one to get punished more harshly by the league.

In its weekly report of fines handed out for the previous week, the NFL declared that Pickens would be docked $10,230 for the act of unnecessary roughness that came after Lewis recovered a fumble to finally end the multiple-lateral last-ditch effort by the Steelers offense on the game’s final play.

Lewis, ball in hand, got in Pickens’s face and clearly said something to which the third-year receiver took offense. Pickens grabbed Lewis’s facemask and yanked him the the ground.

Lewis was also fined by the league- for taunting- but incredibly, his fine amounted to $11,255, over a thousand dollars more than Pickens.

Huh?

Fines are levied according to a pre-determined menu whereby each violation equates to a set dollar amount. But it’s hard to watch a replay of the Cowboys/Steelers end-of-game sequence and think that anything Lewis might have said was somehow worse than what Pickens did in retaliation.

True, Lewis hurled some words. But Pickens could have left a fellow player injured.

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Lewis and Pickens were getting after each other all night. As the Cowboys players made their way to the locker room after the game, cameras captured Lewis saying, “Pittsburgh need a new receiver. George Pickens weak.”

Per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the 29-year-old veteran expressed regret for the comment.

“Honestly, I shouldn’t have said that,” Lewis said. “It was an emotional game. There was some chatter on the field. One thing led to another. He had a moment, I had a moment. It was too emotional. I shouldn’t have said it.”

Now both Lewis and Pickens will pay for their respective emotional outbursts… but Lewis will inexplicably pay more.

Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson was also fined- also $11,255- for a late hit that extended Pittsburgh’s fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown.

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Cowboys CB throws serious shade at Steelers WB George Pickens

Jourdan Lewis called George Pickens “weak” and said the Steelers need a new wide receiver.

The Pittsburgh Steelers passing offense was only able to muster 150 yards on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. This played a significant role in why the Steelers lost to the Cowboys to fall to 3-2.

A big reason for this was the absence of star wide receiver George Pickens. Pickens finished with only three receptions and was part of some sort of snap management plan by head coach Mike Tomlin which we don’t believe for one second.

Pickens also got into a bit of a dust-up after the game with Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis. This prompted Lewis after the game to put Pickens on blast.

Lewis called Pickens “weak” and said the Steelers needed to get a new wide receiver. While we don’t disagree with Lewis thinking the Steelers need a new wideout, we aren’t sure we’d call Pickens weak. However, so the victor goes the spoils and Lewis and the Dallas defense were in full control Sunday night and can say what they want.

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George Pickens could face fine after end-of-game antics

George Pickens yanked Jourdan Lewis down by the facemask after the Steelers loss.

Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night was a real heartbreaker. After a long delay to the start of the game due to lightning, the Steelers and Cowboys butted heads with the Cowboys coming out on top 20-17 on a touchdown in the final seconds.

The Steelers got the ball back and tried one final trick play in hopes of a miracle that fell short. As the clock hit all zeroes, Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis decided to taunt Steelers wide receiver George Pickens with the football.

Pickens took exception to the showboating and calming yanked Lewis doing by his facemask. Pickens then casually walked away as if nothing had happend.

While we appreciate Pickens’ frustration, we can’t fault him for not wanting to have the football waived in his face after a loss. Pickens is almost sure to be fined by the NFL for the move but given the circumstances, we can’t blame him for an impulsive moment.

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Ravens vs. Cowboys: Top photos from 28-25 win at AT&T Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 28-25 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium

For one week, we thought John Harbaugh’s team would be entering the 2024 regular season.

All-world running back Derrick Henry ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson logged a passing and rushing score, and the Baltimore Ravens held on for a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday after blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead.

Baltimore (1-2) scored touchdowns on their first two drives, while the Cowboys (1-2) have allowed 120 points in their past three home games.

With the final results, here are the top photos from Sunday’s massive win.

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Do Cowboys have enough at CB with Diggs, Bland, Lewis?

With Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis the Cowboys have one of the best starting CB units in the NFL. Is it enough? | From @ReidDHanson

Most will agree, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland give the Cowboys one of the NFL’s best one-two punches at cornerback. The ball-hawking tandem of Diggs and Bland is enough to send the shivers up any quarterback’s spine, even if they seem to offer up as many opportunities as they steal.

Looking towards the 2024 season it appears CB is one of the only positions Dallas doesn’t need to seriously address. With needs all over the roster, it’s tempting to ignore CB completely, especially since Dallas went out of their way to re-sign Jourdan Lewis to a 1-year, $2,827,500 this March.

Retaining Lewis means the Cowboys are three-deep at the CB position. Diggs and Bland will man the boundary while Lewis reclaims his role as the top nickel option. Nahshon Wright and Eric Scott both expect to be back in the mix of things in 2024 but neither are assured a roster spot, let alone a viable role in the defensive backfield.

Diggs, Bland and Lewis give the Cowboys a strong trio of starting CBs and as long as they all stay healthy in 2024, there’s no reason to think they won’t be one of the more formidable units in the league. But is it reasonable to expect an injury-free campaign?

The Cowboys know a thing or two about CB injuries. In 2022 major injuries to Anthony Brown and Lewis forced Dallas to dig deep in the well for CB options. It was a major problem late in the season, forcing Dallas to turn to free agents off the street just to survive.

In 2023 a season ending injury to Trevon Diggs forced them to recast their nickel CB, Bland, into a boundary role and push the recovering Lewis back into the top-three.

Over the last two years, the Cowboys have been rewarded by going four-deep in their roster construction. If anything, they learned they need more, not less, at the CB position each year because injuries are seemingly inevitable and consequences have been severe.

The Cowboys should feel great about their starting trio, but their depth should concern everyone. Even if the Cowboys are confident in Wright or Scott, they likely need another option before the season. Whether that option is a veteran insurance policy or a mid-to-late round draft pick, isn’t important, but someone else must still be added to the mix.

It’s a numbers game at CB and right now the Cowboys don’t have enough of them.

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9 Cowboys who could follow Dan Quinn to Washington in next 2 years

It’s common practice for players to follow a coach to a new venue. Which defenders could trail Quinn to the east coast? | From @KDDrummondNFL

One would imagine that a ton of Cowboys defenders enjoyed their time under Dan Quinn’s leadership. His ability to motivate and lead is often cited as his best quality, and that’s for a defensive coordinator who has had three straight top-five defenses in Dallas on top of back-to-back No. 1 defenses in Seattle. In between was a stint as head coach of Atlanta that included a trip to the Super Bowl without having a top defense.

So it stands to reason, with a new franchise QB incoming and a ton of cap space, Washington is going to be an intriguing destination for Quinn’s disciples. Some will be able to join him this year, others will have to wait a year until their contracts expire. Here’s a look at two years worth of Cowboys free agents who could end up following Quinn to the nation’s capital.

 

3 Cowboys defenders likely to follow Dan Quinn if he leaves Dallas

If Dan Quinn leaves the Cowboys in the offseason here are three defenders who are likely to follow him out of Dallas. | From @ReidDHanson

Over the past three seasons Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has enjoyed celebrity status in Dallas. The former Super Bowl head coach transformed a fledging defense under Mike Nolan into a one of the NFL’s best, almost overnight.

Leading the NFL in turnovers for two consecutive seasons was said to be impossible, yet Quinn achieved it in 2021 and 2022. He was able to lure veteran players into rotational roles. Dallas retained up-and-comers on affordable deals. Quinn moved players to new roles and positions with shocking success. His proficiency in Dallas has earned him top status around the NFL. He’s been an annual name on head coaching interview lists each offseason and each season the Cowboys have felt generally blessed to somehow retain him.

That might change in 2024.

Upheaval is expected following the Cowboys’ 48-32 loss to the Packers in the wild card round of the playoffs. Dallas was humiliated at home and Quinn’s defense played a significant role in that loss. He’s already been linked to vacancies around the NFL and given his tenuous status in Dallas, may see 2024 as the perfect time to jump ship.

But Quinn is a player’s coach. His guys love him and based on the players who’ve come to Dallas to work with him over the years, his players also follow him. So, if/when Quinn leaves the Cowboys, who can be expected to follow him out of town?

Jourdan Lewis has regained form at a critical time for the Cowboys

Jourdan Lewis had a long and hard road back from injury but entering the postseason, he’s playing at peak levels and key to Cowboys success, finds @ReidDHanson

Jourdan Lewis’ 2023 season, in many ways, had been a season to forget for the 28-year-old veteran. After suffering a potentially career-ending foot injury roughly 15 months ago, 2023 marked a year of recovery, rehab, and grueling training for the Cowboys nickel CB.

Up until the injury, Lewis had been an ironman of sorts. He played 15 or more games in each of the five seasons prior and wasn’t familiar with the rigors of overcoming serious injury. Listed as a Lisfranc but described as something far more catastrophic, Lewis had to start at square one. It wasn’t just physically taxing but it was mentally difficult as well.

“There was doubt at the beginning that he would ever play again,” Britt Brown, Dallas longtime athletic trainer said of Lewis. “This was not a normal foot injury. This was like a car crash, where you crush your foot and it’s never the same.”

Lewis didn’t just need to get his foot back in football shape, but he essentially needed to learn to walk again with his surgically repaired foot. The laborious process understandably trickled into the new season, landing Lewis on the Cowboys PUP (physically unable to perform) list heading into training camp and buying the veteran time in his bid for a fantastic comeback.

At a cost of $6,137,244 against the cap, Lewis was Dallas’ tenth-largest cap cost in 2023. That’s a lot of money dedicated to a player who registered no higher than CB4 on the depth chart. But the Cowboys believed in Lewis. They saw how injuries in the secondary can sink an otherwise stellar defense and valued his ability to add depth across the ranks.

As fate would have it, a season-ending ACL injury to Trevon Diggs bumped DaRon Bland up to a boundary role opposite Stephon Gilmore, and vacated the nickel spot for Lewis to reclaim. As one could expect, Lewis did not exactly hit the ground running in his historic comeback bid. 2023 graded as his second-worst season as a pro as he struggled to regain form.

“I wouldn’t say I’m back to 100, but I understand how to manage my foot and what helps me perform better,” Lewis said in a January 5 interview with Nick Eatman. “Just getting my rehab in and keeping my diet and making sure I can perform at my best. I’m just in a better routine than I was earlier in the season. Just in a better place right now. I’m glad I’m able to get out there and contribute to the team.”

Announced as the Cowboys 2023 winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, Lewis is starting to see all of that hard work pay off. His Week 17 performance against the Lions and Week 18 performance against the Commanders marked his best games of the season. He showed intelligence in coverage, savvy in his playmaking and grit in his run defense. He’s playing at peak levels and he’s doing it with preparedness, discipline and toughness.

Playing in the slot is an almost impossible task in the NFL. Without the benefit of the sideline, nickel CBs are susceptible to a 180-degree release. Separation is almost unavoidable and oftentimes nickel CB is about keeping windows as narrow as possible and limiting damage more than it is about denying passes.

Lewis has shown throughout the season, nothing will come easy against him and while passes may be completed, he’s going to contest everything possible. His toughness and demeaner has been instrumental in the Cowboys ability to hold up against the run and his character embodies the spirit of a championship level defense.

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