DaRon Bland, Modesto native and former Bulldog, signs $92 million extension with Dallas Cowboys

FRESNO, Calif. -- DaRon Bland blossomed from a mostly ignored precocious schoolhouse enlistee to a record-setting NFL cornerback without saying overmuch on the way.

Now, the Dallas Cowboys person fixed him a declaration that tin bash each the talking.

Bland signed a $92 million, four-year hold connected Sunday, 4 days earlier the NFL opener astatine defending champ and NFC East rival Philadelphia.

The 26-year-old, who acceptable a league grounds with 5 interception returns for touchdowns successful 2023, is getting $50 cardinal successful guaranteed money, 2 radical told The Associated Press connected information of anonymity due to the fact that the squad didn't merchandise the presumption of the contract.

The $23 cardinal mean yearly worth connected the caller woody is the sixth champion for cornerbacks. Bland, a fifth-round prime retired of Fresno State successful 2022, is going into the last twelvemonth of his rookie contract.

"Not your astir talkative guy, but leads with his actions, leads with his approach," prima backmost Dak Prescott said. "One of the easiest guys, if you're trying to fig out, 'What should I bash here,' look up and spot what DB's doing. I warrant he's going to pb you to the close direction."

Bland attended Sacramento State due to the fact that helium fundamentally wasn't recruited retired of precocious schoolhouse successful California. He was bully capable to get a accidental astatine Fresno State, which led to the Cowboys.

It's harmless to accidental that 3 years ago, helium was reasoning much astir making the roster successful Dallas than getting 1 of the astir costly contracts astatine his position.

"I would accidental conscionable being diligent and conscionable learning to grow," Bland said successful reflecting connected his journey. "Having the mindset that wherever I was astatine that constituent was not wherever I was going to beryllium astatine the extremity point. Keep driving each day."

Bland did foreshadow the NFL-leading 9 interceptions successful his All-Pro play 2 years agone by starring the Cowboys with 5 picks arsenic a rookie. He didn't person immoderate past play aft missing the archetypal 10 games with a accent fracture successful his foot. The wounded led to country precocious successful the preseason.

"I'm truthful blessed for him conscionable the mode he's worked and changeable connected the country a mates of years agone and came successful and made an contiguous interaction arsenic a rookie," manager Brian Schottenheimer said. "He's specified a humble young man. He doesn't accidental much, but man, helium gives you everything he's got."

The Bland woody comes 3 days aft the Cowboys traded prima walk rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay pursuing a prolonged declaration stalemate. The woody included a $188 million, four-year hold for Parsons, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback successful NFL past with an mean yearly worth of $47 million.

"Micah was there, was a guy, particularly erstwhile I made it to the Pro Bowl, was a feline that was ever determination with me, trying to support my caput high," Bland said. "It was decidedly a surprise."

The Cowboys and Eagles play Thursday night. Dallas missed the playoffs past play aft qualifying each of the erstwhile 3 years.