The Dallas Cowboys have signed their former 2022 5th round pick (167th overall) to a four year, $92 million contract extension. This new contract includes $50M guaranteed, and at the time the deal was signed, made Bland the 6th highest paid cornerback in the NFL, with a $23M average annual salary.
Bland just turned 26 on July 12th, which gives the Cowboys an All-Pro level cornerback, who is just entering the prime of his career. Bland comes into his fourth NFL season with 14 career interceptions. He posted 5 in 2022, and an NFL leading 9 in 2023 – 5 of which he returned for touchdown – an NFL record.
A stress fracture, which occurred during Training Camp in 2024 derailed his 2024 season. Bland missed the first 10 games while recovering, and then joined a decimated Cowboys defense, already missing several of their stars, such as DeMarcus Lawrence (right foot) and Sam Williams (left knee.)
Where Is Daron Bland From?
Born in Modesto, CA in 1999, Bland attended Central Catholic High School, before enrolling at Sacamento State (2017-2020), where, as a junior, he was named to the 1st Team All-Big Sky Conference team. Bland’s senior season was severely inmpacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led him to enter the NCAA transfer portal. This led him to Fresno State, where he played his final college season as a graduate transfer. Bland excelled for the Bulldogs of Sacramento State, where he recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions in only 13 games.
With this extension, the Cowboys have now cemented an important piece of their defensive puzzle in place. Bland, known for his ball-hawking, aggressive style of play, will provide new Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus with another playmaker. At 6’0″, 197 lbs, and possessing 4.48 40-yard dash speed, Bland has the prototypical build for an NFL cornerback.
His ability to match up physically with every type and style of NFL WR, provides the Cowboys defensive flexibility, which is something they have not been afforded in recent seasons.
Security For Bland Means Security For Dallas’ Key Defenders Moving Forward From Micah Parsons
With several defensive stalwarts returning from injury in 2025, having a healthy Bland on the field provides not only some stability, but a serious threat to opposing QB’s. Once the Cowboys see the return of CB Trevon Diggs (knee), LB DeMarvion Overshown (knee), and rookie 3rd Round pick CB Shavon Revel (76th overall), the defense is expected to greatly improve.
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer had nothing but praise for the newly extended Bland. Schottenheimer exclaimed, “He has incredible ball skills, but I also thank God he’s got incredible insticnts. His abillity to study the game, and his knowledge of the game for a young player, relatively young, so uncanny. His ability to read splits and anticipate routes, and things like that? That usually happens when you’re older…”
He later said, “DaRon has just always had the ability to process things very quickly, and then he certainly has elite change of direction and ball skills, which is why the interceptions and the pick-sixes have happened. He’s another guy who fits perfcetly in our defense.”
