Cowboys discussion: DaRon Bland, Jaydon Blue, and players under pressure

Here is our most recent BTB Roundtable discussion.

Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman and Brian Martin.

DaRon Bland’s contract year begins, what are your expectations for him this year and will he be with Dallas beyond the 2025 season?

DaRon Bland officially enters the final year of his rookie contract this season with a base salary of about $5.35 million and a cap hit near $5.42 million. After an explosive 2023 year when he led the NFL with nine interceptions, scored a record five pick-sixes, and earned First‑Team All‑Pro honors, his 2024 campaign was derailed by a stress fracture that limited him to just seven games.

Now comes a high pressure year for Bland who really does need to stay healthy and try to replicate his elite-level ball production to justify a major extension. Dallas has prioritized Micah Parsons this year (or we expect them to), but team executives, including Stephen Jones, have publicly suggested they would like to begin extension talks with Bland before he hits free agency in 2026. That would be a smart move if he does end up exploding again this year. The gamble is set firmly on the table with this one.

Howman: I’ve gone on record saying the Cowboys should let Bland go after the season, Byron Jones style, unless he decides to take a super team-friendly deal. I’m not so sure the team will do that, but Bland’s performance this season could make it unavoidable anyway. I see Bland putting up another Pro Bowl caliber year, as his skillset fits perfectly into what Matt Eberflus seeks in his slot corners.

Brian: Whether it’s from the slot or on the outside, I expect DaRon Bland to put together another Pro Bowl caliber season. Now healthy, he should excel in Matt Eberflus’ scheme. As for his future in Dallas is concerned, he’s going to be tough to re-sign. I think the Cowboys likely let him walk unless they part ways with Trevon Diggs and use the money saved from that transaction to retain Bland.

Jaydon Blue has impressed in workouts and received a lot of praise. Where does he rank currently among the running backs on the roster, and how many rushing and receiving yards do you expect him to reach in his rookie season?

The running back position remains a concern for Cowboys fans, but don’t panic, Jaydon Blue has been turning heads throughout the offseason after landing in Dallas during this year’s draft. In workouts, coaches and teammates have praised his elite speed and dynamic receiving skills out of the backfield. Current projections have Javonte Williams and Jaydon Blue as the two most secure running backs on the roster, thanks to their receiving skillsets. Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, and Hunter Luepke are squarely in the bubble category. What does Blue’s season look like?

Howman: Predicting...