The Dallas Cowboys selected DaRon Bland in the fifth round (167th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. The tall and athletic cornerback fits the size and traits that the Cowboys defense seeks in its defensive backs. Bland exceeded all expectations in his first pro season, playing significant time at both the nickel and boundary corner positions to the tune of eight starts in 17 games played with 56 tackles, a tackle for loss, seven pass breakups and a team-leading five interceptions. Bland's five interceptions were the most by a Cowboys rookie since Derek Ross and Roy Williams each had five in 2002. He enters his second season as a bona fide member of a Dallas secondary that has finished in the top-10 in interceptions each of the last two seasons.
