The NFL’s 11 best slot defenders

More and more, your slot defender is your third starting cornerback or safety. Here are the 11 slot defenders who do it best in today’s NFL.

9. Jourdan Lewis, Dallas Cowboys

(Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Lewis played in the slot on 449 of his 590 snaps last season, allowing 27 receptions on 41 targets in that role for 372 yards, 181 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 90.7. The 2017 third-round pick out of Michigan has seen a serious transformation in his overall role since his rookie season, when he played 676 snaps at outside corner and just 46 in the slot.

Lewis has the ability to get right up on a receiver and trail him through a route, and he also has the field awareness to catch up to a target from off coverage. Lewis is also a sure run-tackler with 18 total stops in his 2019 season, and an excellent blitzer who gauged the gaps in opposing offensive lines for four sacks and five total pressures.