The Dallas Cowboys, through the first five weeks of the 2026 NFL season, have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They struggle to stop any opposing offense, and when it comes to the passing game, they have one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL.

DaRon Bland, once a Pro Bowl cornerback who signed a $90 million contract extension not too long ago, has now become one of the biggest liabilities in coverage in the NFL. But will the Cowboys bench Bland this season?

ESPN's Bill Barnwell shared that the Cowboys, beyond simply Bland's poor play, actually have a $13 million reason to bench the former star cornerback this season.

Cowboys might bench DaRon Bland for $13M contract reason

"Bland is owed $13 million next year, and at the moment, it's only guaranteed for injury," Barnwell writes. "The Cowboys don't want to be on the hook for that money, so it would hardly be a surprise if they took Bland out of the lineup altogether once Durant and Porter are back on the field to avoid triggering those guarantees, which would happen if Bland suffers a significant injury."

While the Cowboys wait for Joey Porter Jr. and Cobie Durant to return to the team's starting defense, Bland is sticking as a starting cornerback.

But if the Cowboys were to play Bland and he sustains a serious injury, his 2027 contract would become fully guaranteed at a $13 million mark.

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That would be a disastrous situation for the Cowboys, as they'd be stuck with Bland's $13 million contract on their books, with likely no team willing to take on such a deal for a cornerback coming off a serious injury and who was struggling all of 2026.

It should seem very clear now why the Cowboys might end up benching Bland for more than just his poor play. If they do bench him, they avoid running the risk of being saddled with his costly $13M deal next year.

At some point this season, the Cowboys, barring Bland suddenly turning things around and playing at a very high level, will likely bench the veteran cornerback to avoid getting hit with such a brutal contract next year.

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