The spotlight is back on Jerry Jones after a contract decision that many fans believe helped trigger the Dallas Cowboys current roster squeeze. The debate centers on a four-year, $92 million deal for cornerback DaRon Bland-a move critics say indirectly led to the departure of a franchise defender and now threatens the depth around Dak Prescott.
At the time, Jones argued that paying an edge rusher north of $40 million annually wasn’t feasible. Soon after, Dallas reallocated cap space toward Bland at $22.5 million per year, including $50 million guaranteed. The optics stung: a record-setting defensive back from 2023 rewarded after a season in which injuries and performance dips clouded the picture.
Bland’s résumé made the extension understandable on paper. Two seasons ago, he posted five pick-sixes and nine interceptions, earning First-Team All-Pro honors. But the following year, a left foot fracture limited him to seven games. When he returned, quarterbacks weren’t shy about targeting him, and the metrics reflected it. The trend didn’t fully reverse the next season, as availability and efficiency remained concerns.
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Meanwhile, Dallas’ defense slid toward the bottom of the league, allowing 30+ points per game. With Bland’s cap number locked in, the Cowboys now face painful opportunity costs at a time when flexibility matters most.
Cowboys cap crunch collides with Prescott’s support system
The math is unforgiving. Projections place the 2026 salary cap near $300 million, while Dallas’ commitments are already well beyond that line. A major reason is the franchise’s long-term investments: Prescott’s blockbuster extension and large annual figures tied to other stars. As a result, the Cowboys sit tens of millions over the cap with a wave of expiring contracts.
Fifteen players are headed for unrestricted free agency, several of whom are key to keeping the offense functional if the defense struggles. Among them is wide receiver George Pickens, whose 93-catch, 1,429-yard, nine-touchdown season has pushed his market value toward the $30 million range. The franchise tag is an option, but it’s a temporary-and expensive-patch.
Jones and the front office do have levers to pull. Restructuring deals for Prescott and other cornerstone players could free roughly $90-$110 million in the short term. Spreading cap hits over future years via extensions is another path, though it risks compounding the problem down the road.
Complicating matters further, Dallas must rebuild under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker while deciding how to allocate resources to the pass rush and secondary. Retaining or adding veteran help on the edge will require space the team doesn’t currently have.
The criticism isn’t just about one contract. It’s about sequencing and timing. Paying Bland after an injury-affected stretch, while shedding other premium talent, left the Cowboys top-heavy and short on depth. Now, with Prescott needing protection, playmakers, and a competent defense, the franchise is racing the calendar to keep the roster from thinning out.
For Jones, the path forward is clear but delicate: restructure smartly, prioritize the right free agents, and avoid repeating the cycle. Otherwise, a $92 million bet could continue to echo through Dallas’ locker room for years.
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