While all Dallas Cowboys contract talk centers on superstar defender Micah Parsons—who is expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history later this year—the front office has more players to worry about in the near future.
Among those, cornerback DaRon Bland stands out.
The All-Pro defender that set the record for the most pick-sixes in a single season in league history is entering a contract year in 2025. And negotiations could be among the most difficult in recent memory for multiple reasons. Mostly, disagreement of where he stands among cornerbacks around the league. His resume suggests he could be among the highest-paid corners in the NFL but disagreement exists about whether or not he's that good.
Pro Football Focus recently foreshadowed this imminent controversy by ranking Bland 32nd among NFL cornerbacks, a ranking that's shockingly low to many fans. Even their explanation showed some contradicting information, admitting his PFF coverage grade over the past two seasons ranks sixth in the NFL.
Bland missed the first 10 games of the 2024 season due to injury after a 2023 campaign in which he broke the NFL record for pick-sixes. His PFF advanced coverage grade wasn’t great, even though his standard PFF coverage grade over the past two seasons ranks sixth.
His 71.4 PFF coverage grade in 2024 was solid, but he failed to log an interception after his record-breaking season. 2025 should be a good indicator of whether Bland can continue his playmaking ways.
The upcoming season will go a long way in determining whether Bland belongs in the elite tier of cornerbacks nearing the $30 million mark or whether he will sign a tier or two below the top of the market.
Which brings us to the next reason why these could become feisty negotiations.
The Cowboys worked out DaRon Bland in the slot during OTAs
It's no secret nickel cornerbacks make less money than those lining up on the outside. In part due to injuries across the roster, Bland was working in the slot for several snaps during OTAs according to reports.
Naturally, this is an awkward spot for the fourth-year cornerback looking to sign a humongous deal next offseason. If moved to the inside of the defense, Bland's price tag could be affected next year.
We'll see where he's lining up once training camp comes around and the Cowboys are slightly healthier but so far, this has the makings of what could be a negotiation where the two parties start at very different numbers.
For now, let's allow the 2025 season to play out. It could make things clearer ahead of negotiation time.
