FRISCO, Texas 鈥 Feel free to slide the trade drama surrounding Micah Parsons and the 草莓视频下载入口 to the side, if only for a moment, because the latter just proved they can most certainly get a contract extension done early if they like the tone of the negotiations 鈥 as DaRon Bland becomes the latest beneficiary of that edict.
The All-Pro cornerback was awarded a four-year contract extension worth upwards of $92 million that includes $50 million guaranteed to lock him in through the 2029 season. What does this mean for the pocketbook and gameplan in Dallas going forward, seeing as they've now secure their other historic cornerback in nearly as many offseasons?
I'm glad you asked, now grab your notebook.
It's time for science.
Tangoing Cash
Not long after also signing Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson to an early extension this summer, the deal with Bland means the Cowboys will avoid a $5.4 million cap hit for 2025 that was tied to the fourth and final year of Bland's rookie contract, and instead flip that debit into a credit of $3.4 million in savings.
Mathematically, it serves as mostly a wash against the incoming $3 million cap hit for acquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the Parsons' trade package, netting the front office just south of $500,000 and settling their current salary cap at roughly $40 million in available space to spend going forward.
They could gain tens of millions more if they were to successfully strike early contract extensions with defensive end Sam Williams ($363K) and/or First-team All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey ($1.3 million for 2025) and First-team All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith ($1.4 million in 2025 + $16 million in 2026 by replacing the fully guaranteed fifth-year option that's been exercised already).
No pun intended, but you see which of the three is the mastodon in that room.
There's no way of knowing when a deal for Smith might land, but the Cowboys and his agent, one they are very familiar with (Todd France of Dak Prescott fame in Dallas) have been in negotiations since early on in training camp; and there is no contention there to speak of at the moment.
I'm sure both sides hope it remains that way.
For Bland, however, the new contract serves as a financial peak to an arduous climb up the football mountain to gain the validation and security Bland has more than earned as a leader on and off the field.
His Turn, Earned
That last portion of the previous statement isn't to be perceived as a slight to Parsons (I'll let you debate that topic as you so choose), but it instead simply, and exclusively, to be viewed as praise for how Bland has carried himself since getting the call as the Cowboys' fifth-round pick in 2022.
He's set records, check.
He's been mostly available, the foot fracture in 2024 notwithstanding, check.
Active in 41 of a possible 51 games over his first three seasons, all while displaying the versatility to start at nickel corner in the NFL, a spot he rarely played at Sacramento State or Fresno State, due to injury at the position, Bland then excelled like literally no one has ever when sent to the boundary due to additional injury at cornerback in Dallas 鈥 check.
So the Cowboys cut the, well, check.
"He's got flexibility," said head coach Brian Schottenheimer. "He can play nickel, and he can play the boundary corner, because he's so physical against the run, and a key, key piece for the 草莓视频下载入口."
Flex Seal
Flexibility is one thing, but Bland should have a yoga position named after him.
There's a more than solid chance he will start the 2025 season not simply playing nickel corner, if fellow First-team All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs can return in time to take the field against the Philadelphia Eagles in the opener on Sept. 4, but also on the boundary in certain sets. If you're wondering why he'd potentially serve double duty with Diggs on the field, it's for a couple of reasons:
- There's a chance Diggs isn't fully unleashed yet, even if he does play.
- In non-nickel sets, the better combo on the outside is Bland and Diggs, because as great as Kaiir Elam has looked in his first training camp with the Cowboys, Bland still clears most NFL corners at that spot, so it makes sense that would be the plan.
Elam is on a one-year deal, so we'll revisit all of this in 2026, by the way.
The second point above has been something seen throughout training camp, though it was, at the time, primarily Andrew Booth, who has since been cut, playing opposite Elam on the boundary in nickel sets that saw defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus move Bland to the slot for work.
That will help Eberflus truly ensure that he always has the best corners on the field at all times, using Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Stewart, both claimed off of waivers last week, as needed supplements along with undrafted rookie Zion Childress, who found his way back to the practice squad after clearing waivers.
When Josh Butler, Caelen Carson and rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel are healed and ready for action, it could finally flip the switch from the Cowboys having been in dire straits at cornerback this entire offseason to having some very real depth, and youth, on the roster.
Bland joins Diggs as leading the room though, and rightfully so, considering those two have proven to be the ... ahem ... spice of life at the position.
