Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland and cornerback Trevon Diggs celebrate after an interception. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Dallas Cowboys getting almost nothing from $187 million investment

Originally posted on Dallas Cowboys on SI
By Randy Gurzi | Last updated Dec 18, 2025 9:24 PM ET

As the 2022 season came to a close, the Dallas Cowboys felt they had one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

Trevon Diggs was fresh off a breakout season in which he recorded 11 interceptions during the 2021 campaign. His numbers weren't as impressive in 2022, with Diggs recording three picks. Still, his overall play was vastly improved.

Dallas also found a stud on Day 3 that year, with fifth-round pick DaRon Bland racking up five interceptions.

They went into 2023 intent on keeping these two together, signing Diggs to a five-year $97 million deal. Just two games into the season, however, Diggs was lost to a torn ACL. He's since played in just 17 games, missing six in 2024 and eight so far in 2025.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

With him out, Bland continued to shine with nine interceptions in 2023. He then started to deal with injuries of his own, missing 10 games in 2024 due to a foot injury. Still, Dallas signed Bland to a four-year, $97 million extension this year, and Bland is again struggling to stay healthy.

Bland appeared in 12 games, but another foot injury likely brings his season to an end. Even if Diggs returns, which feels increasingly unlikely, the Cowboys will have seen their two big-name cornerbacks share the field only seven times across three years.

The #Cowboys invested a lot of money in CBs DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs. Bland signed a 4-year, $90 million extension this off-season. Diggs signed a 5-year, $97 million extension before the 2023 season.

They've played in only seven games together the last three seasons. https://t.co/p4fQipYMgb
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 19, 2025

Cowboys $187 million investment has been a disaster

Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Dallas has invested $187 million in cornerbacks in hopes of building an elite pass defense. That hasn't worked at all as they enter Week 16 with the worst pass defense in the league. While they were better in 2024, the pass defense still had issues, finishing 17th in yards surrendered and 24th in touchdowns.

Despite the investment in Diggs and Bland, Dallas has one of the most exploited secondaries in the league. With both cornerbacks hampered by recurring injuries, the dreams of building a "no-fly zone" have gone up in smoke, and the Cowboys must consider making massive changes in the offseason.

This article first appeared on Dallas Cowboys on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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