The Dallas Cowboys have had their hands full with superstar linebacker Micah Parsons looking for a contract extension from the team ahead of the 2025 campaign. Now, it seems like they may have another star player, cornerback DaRon Bland, looking for a new deal as well.
While Bland only suited up for seven games in 2024, he enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023 that saw him earn a spot on the All-Pro First Team and a Pro Bowl selection. And while all the drama surrounding Parsons has demanded the Cowboys’ attention, it sounds like Bland would like a new contract in the near future, too.
DaRon Bland Wants a New Contract from Cowboys, But There’s a Catch
After getting selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Bland immediately earned a role in the Cowboys’ secondary, playing in all 17 games as a rookie, with eight of them being starts. 2023 was when Bland really broke out, as he racked up 69 tackles, a league-leading nine interceptions (five of which he returned for touchdowns), and 15 pass deflections. From out of nowhere, Bland became one of the best ballhawks in the league.
2024 didn’t go quite as smoothly for Bland, as he missed the first 10 games of the season due to a stress fracture in his foot. When he returned, he struggled to make his typical impact, as he didn’t record a single interception after totaling 14 over the first two seasons of his career. That left Bland in a weird spot when it comes to his contract situation entering the 2025 season.
Bland is in the final year of his rookie deal, so it’s not a surprise that he’s looking for a pay raise. With Dallas focusing on Parsons, though, there hasn’t been much attention on Bland’s contract negotiations. And while the star cornerback made it clear he wants a new deal, he also isn’t looking to be an unnecessary distraction for his team as they prepare for the new season.
“I do, but I’m not here to talk about it really too much,” Bland said of potential contract talks with the Cowboys, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. “But yeah, hopefully.”
What Should the Cowboys Do About DaRon Bland’s Contract Situation?
As if the Cowboys needed more contract drama on their plate, they may have to take care of a new deal for Bland before the start of the new season. Given how slow the team is moving with Parsons, though, it remains to be seen if they will be able to get anything done with Bland. Beyond that, they may want to see how he fares in the 2025 campaign before potentially handing him a new contract after his injury-plagued 2024 season.
Dallas is in quite a bind ahead of the new season, and that’s without even considering a potential extension for Bland. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like he’s going to hold out, because the team needs as much help in their cornerback room as they can get. In an ideal world, Bland would get a new deal before the start of the new season, but he may have to wait until after the 2025 campaign to get what he’s looking for.
