Whereas they weren’t in a position to re-sign Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys had been in a position to lock up one other Professional Bowler on its protection for the lengthy haul. The Cowboys and former All-Professional cornerback DaRon Bland have agreed to phrases of a brand new deal within the type of a four-year, $92 million extension, the staff introduced.
Bland, 26, now has the fifth-highest contract within the NFL amongst cornerbacks by way of common annual worth. Solely Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II make extra on a median annual foundation than Bland, who will now common $23.04 million per season.
“I am so pleased for him,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer stated of Bland’s extension on Sunday. “Effectively deserved. … One other man who completely suits our protection.”
A 2022 fifth-round choose, Bland’s extension is a byproduct of the success he loved throughout his first three seasons in Dallas. After choosing off 5 passes as a rookie, Bland led the NFL with 9 interceptions in 2023 en path to incomes his first Professional Bowl berth. He additionally tabbed as an All-Professional that season.
After a extremely profitable first two seasons with the Cowboys, a foot harm sustained final summer time throughout coaching camp hindered Bland’s availability and productiveness final season. Whereas he did document his first profession pressured fumble, Bland broke up simply 5 passes and didn’t document a choose in seven video games through the 2024 season.
Given the contract extension, the Cowboys are clearly assured that Bland will have the ability to return to Professional Bowl kind now that he’s greater than a 12 months faraway from final 12 months’s harm.
Talking of the Cowboys’ secondary, the staff is definitely hoping that fellow cornerback Trevon Diggs can return to kind this 12 months after knee and groin accidents restricted his availability every of the previous two seasons. Diggs, who was not too long ago faraway from the Cowboys’ bodily unable to carry out listing, has an opportunity to play within the Cowboys’ regular-season opener towards the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I might be remiss if I did not speak about how laborious Trevon’s been working,” Schottenheimer stated final week. “He is doing an unimaginable job with Britt [Brown]. This stuff do not occur if he is not placing within the time and the hassle to do the stuff that he is been doing. Actually pleased with him.”
