Cowboys Seek Replacement for Slot Cornerback After Lewis Departure

Arlington, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys are facing a pivotal challenge in their secondary following the departure of veteran cornerback Jourdan Lewis. The team is actively seeking a suitable replacement for the nickel cornerback position, a role that has gained significant importance in the NFL.

After Lewis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, the Cowboys acquired Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam via trade, re-signed Israel Mukuamu, and drafted Shavon Revel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, none of these players are suited to primarily play in the slot position.

Elam and Revel, who excelled on the outside in Buffalo and East Carolina respectively, possess attributes more aligned with boundary cornerbacks. While Mukuamu has some experience in the slot, recording only three starts in his four-year Cowboys career, he is not viewed as a full-time solution for the nickel role.

The slot cornerback position has grown increasingly crucial, especially with more elite wide receivers operating in that area. Therefore, the Cowboys are expected to explore various options during training camp to fill the void left by Lewis.

With Trevon Diggs still recovering from an injury and Shavon Revel rehabilitating from a torn ACL, the Cowboys find themselves in a delicate situation. Some seasoned slot cornerbacks remain available, such as Mike Hilton and Asante Samuel Jr., who could serve as temporary solutions until Diggs and Revel can return to peak performance.

As training camp approaches, the Cowboys plan to give several corners the opportunity to compete for the starting nickel role. They may also consider moving DaRon Bland back inside if they can establish a reliable pairing on the outside.

Given the current injury concerns and depth issues, a strategic move for a veteran cornerback may soon be on the table to stabilize the Cowboys’ secondary before the season kicks off.