Cowboys sign CB DaRon Bland to four-year, $92 million contract extension
The Dallas Cowboys have secured one of their top defensive playmakers for the long haul.
Cornerback DaRon Bland has agreed to a four-year, $92 million contract extension that includes $50 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The deal, announced Sunday, gives Bland an average annual salary of $23 million, ranking him sixth among NFL cornerbacks.
Bland has quickly developed into a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ secondary since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2022. After an impressive rookie season, he broke out in 2023 with nine interceptions, including an NFL-record five returned for touchdowns. His production earned him both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Paired with Trevon Diggs, Bland forms one of the league’s most dangerous cornerback tandems.
Across his first three seasons, Bland has tallied 14 interceptions, 164 tackles, 27 passes defensed, and one forced fumble. Though he missed the first 10 games of last season due to injury and failed to record an interception upon returning, his overall body of work has far exceeded expectations for his draft position.
The Cowboys defense, now under the guidance of coordinator Matt Eberflus, finished the 2024 season ranked 17th in passing yards allowed and 24th in passing touchdowns surrendered. Bland is expected to play a central role in improving those numbers heading into his fourth season.
His extension comes shortly after Dallas traded away All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons in a blockbuster deal with the Green Bay Packers. Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million contract with his new team, while Dallas opted for a more manageable investment in Bland. The move reflects the team’s effort to balance its payroll while already carrying major contracts for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Locking up Bland before the start of the season signals a shift from Dallas’ past tendencies of waiting on big extensions. With this deal done, the Cowboys can move forward with greater stability in their secondary and a clearer picture of their roster construction strategy.