It is hard to believe how quickly the mighty can fall in the NFL, but the Dallas Cowboys are currently watching a former defensive playmaker become a major liability. It really does not seem like all that long ago when DaRon Bland was the apple of every fan’s eye. This fifth-round pick from Fresno burst onto the scene with an incredible 14 interceptions over his first two seasons in the league.
During his second year, he put together one of the most historically impressive cornerback stretches in modern
football, returning interceptions for touchdowns at a ridiculously high frequency. It resulted in an All-Pro 2023 campaign where he set the NFL single-season record with five pick-sixes.
Bland showcased top diagnostic skills and exceptional closing burst whenever quarterbacks dared to test him. This knack for creating game-changing turnovers made him a fan favorite and earned him a long-term deal.
Sadly, all that changed abruptly. The last two seasons have been hindered by recurring foot injuries that made him unavailable, or highly ineffective when he actually was on the field.
First, a stress fracture in his left foot that required a surgical screw sidelined him for most of 2024. Then things got even worse last year when he hurt his right foot early in the season, only to re-injure that same stubborn fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot.
This chronic instability has stolen a massive amount of reps over the past two seasons, but he was fully healthy entering this year with heightened expectations. Unfortunately, the Bland we are seeing now is someone we do not recognize.
Even during his All-Pro season, he would occasionally get his hand caught in the cookie jar and give up a big play, but what is happening now is hard to explain. That elite ball-hawker has completely vanished. These days, we are lucky if he finishes a play without falling down.
Without his patented route-jumping interceptions to mask his deficiencies, Bland’s flaws in coverage have been heavily targeted by opposing play-callers. He is constantly taking the cautious approach, generously laying back and making it very easy for receivers to find a well-vacated space.
You would think this cushion would prevent big plays, but that is not happening either. Instead, he constantly bites on any double-move and routinely finds himself chasing after his own mistakes. He is not reading the play well, and when he does, his brain does not seem to be communicating with his feet. It is painful to say, but he just looks incredibly clumsy.
Even when he finally had the opportunity to redeem himself after perfectly jumping a route late in the game against Tampa Bay, the ball just bounced right off his hands. It was as if his lone superpower had officially been extinguished, leaving behind a regular, well, bland cornerback. The Cowboys must now consider if they have other cornerback options on the roster who can hold down the outside, even if it means relegating Bland to a backup role.
While it is disappointing to see things play out like this, the team is set up nicely for a smooth transition. They just traded for a proven, reliable coverage corner in Joey Porter Jr. and got him for cheap because he is in the final year of his rookie contract. Retaining Porter long-term will be expensive, but if management chooses to move on from Bland, they can easily reallocate those funds.
Cutting ties with Bland after the 2026 season means they will have to eat $21.5 million in dead money from his signing bonus and recent contract restructuring. However, it frees them from the remaining $55.7 million left on the four-year, $90 million deal he signed just last year.
The front office previously watched Trevon Diggs fall to injury and pivoted to Bland in response. Now, they may have to pull off that exact same magic trick once again. At least this time around, they have a replacement who might lack a flashy takeaway résumé, but also does not come with those catastrophic coverage breakdowns.
Football is a business where past production buys very little patience. If Bland cannot find his footing, the front office cannot afford to continue to invest and get diminishing returns. Swapping a broken ball-hawk for a lockdown technician like Porter could be exactly what this defense needs to stabilize the boundary. Turning the page is never easy, but at least the Cowboys have taken measures to make the next chapter of this story a little more appealing.
