It became evident at the end of March that Stephon Gilmore’s time in Dallas was over when the Cowboys failed to re-sign him and he sat waiting for the ideal free-agent offer. Gilmore would go on to become a Hall of Fame player. The Cowboys’ problems with the pay cap have been well-documented, and the $10 million that Gilmore eventually received from Minnesota was arguably too much for Dallas to spend. Not bringing back a veteran who had done well in 2023 felt risky, though.
The risk was evident on Saturday: the Cowboys have lost a top cornerback to injury, as they did with Trevon Diggs the previous season, casting doubt on their depth at the position.
The risk was evident on Saturday: the Cowboys have lost a top cornerback to injury, as they did with Trevon Diggs the previous season, casting doubt on their depth at the position. This time, it was DaRon Bland, the All-Pro cornerback who is Diggs’ bookend.
Before the Cowboys’ last preseason game against the Chargers on Saturday morning, the team revealed that Bland had a stress fracture in his foot, which would require surgery and keep him out for six to eight weeks. The regret for Gilmore reappeared instantly, and ideas of replacing Bland with another veteran began to swirl.
The arrow at CBS Sports pointed to former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, a 31-year-old four-time Pro Bowler who has twice led the NFL in interceptions during his eight-year career, as one of the top unsigned free agent DBs available.
Among the NFL’s Best CBs is DaRon Bland
Analyst Garrett Podell stated in an article titled “All-Pro CB DaRon Bland out 6-8 weeks: Cowboys’ top available options to overcome loss of corner” that Howard would be the best free-agent option, even if he manages to avoid some legal issues that could raise questions about a potential suspension in the future.
Howard, who made an All-Pro team or a Pro Bowl four out of five seasons from 2018 to 2022, is one of the NFL’s most decorated cornerbacks of the last five to six years. The Dolphins ran man coverage on 45.9% of those plays during that time, which was the highest percentage in the NFL. The Cowboys, with the third-highest percentage in the NFL, employed man coverage on 36.1% of their defensive snaps in 2023.
“Sure, after taking over for Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer has been making adjustments to Dallas’ defense, but he is not creating anything new. This implies that Howard might fit into the concept. The legal action Howard is pursuing in response to claims that he shared revenge porn is something to consider.
The issue is that in 2023, Howard battled injury and aging, and the Dolphins had no trouble cutting him loose. In 2023, he received a coverage grade of 51.9 from Pro Football Focus, placing him 178th among cornerbacks.
In contrast, Gilmore had a grade of 72.3, ranking 46th among corners in the NFL, while Bland received an 89.9, ranking third among corners.
Are Cowboys Aware of the Rookie CB?
In fact, it seems like the Cowboys have some faith in Wake Forest rookie Caelen Carson, a fifth-round selection. He is the first man up to take Bland’s place, which is great news for the Cowboys.
Despite Carson’s demonstrated promise, relying on him carries some risk. In training camp, though, he made an impression on coach Mike McCarthy.
Indeed. McCarthy remarked, via the Dallas Morning News, in late July, “I mean, Caelen looks really good.” “His athletic prowess and unadulterated brilliance really shine through. The perimeter players do get an opportunity to truly challenge themselves because they are not wearing pads. Furthermore, a few of the things we are doing in the secondary are not the same as highlighting our prior accomplishments. And both sides are doing fantastic work.
It is also noteworthy that club owner Jerry Jones promptly dismissed the idea of signing defensive back Howard or any other free agent when questioned about it.
Not at all. Not at all, no,” he retorted.
