Cowboys free agent proposal lands former $24 million Bengals starting defender

The Dallas Cowboys need to add another corner to the roster, especially in the nickel spot.

The team let Jourdan Lewis walk in free agency this offseason and hasn't found a viable replacement for their long-time nickel corner. Bleacher Report's Matt Holder believes the Cowboys should replace Lewis with free agent cornerback Mike Hilton, who last played for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024.

"Adding Hilton could keep DaRon Bland on the boundary while allowing the Cowboys to be patient with Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel Jr. as both recover from torn ACLs," Holder wrote.

Signing Hilton is a no-brainer for Dallas. The veteran would immediately step in as a starter on the defense and provide adequate play as the primary slot corner. Hilton was a key part of Cincinnati's defense for a few years and also played a crucial role in their Super Bowl run in 2021.

Though Hilton can be a bit inconsistent in coverage, he is an elite run defender who has tallied 12 tackles for loss in each of the last two seasons. The 31-year-old also posted a 91.7 run-defense grade in 2024, the highest by a cornerback in the NFL.

The Cowboys still have $32 million in cap space, and Hilton shouldn't cost too much to sign. Signing the Mississippi product to a team-friendly deal would be a savvy move from Jerry Jones, as Hilton would play a vital role in Mike Zimmer's defense and bolster a weak spot on the unit.