American Football

Cowboys over/under: 7 interceptions for DaRon Bland

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Dallas Cowboys v Jacksonville Jaguars
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How many interceptions do you think DaRon Bland will have in 2024?

Dallas Cowboys CB DaRon Bland had a special season in 2023. A record-breaking performance from a breakout star was one of the biggest highlights of last year. Bland is a true testament to the Cowboys’ ability to find diamonds in the rough and reaffirm their belief that their best talent is finding quality players anywhere in the draft.

However, with 2023 now in the rearview, it becomes about what you can do now. Bland’s star has grown, and with that comes expectations. With five interceptions in his rookie season, and nine last year, is seven reasonable to to expect from the former Fresno State Bulldogs star?

What should be the expectation for DaRon Bland in 2024?

Bland and the rest of his cornerback teammates were thrust into a tough situation last season when Trevon Diggs went down with a torn ACL. Bland was playing the nickel spot at the time with Stephon Gilmore and Diggs manning the outside. However, that all changed in the blink of an eye, as did the future for Bland.

Bland kicked outside to alleviate the Diggs situation, while Gilmore became CB1, and veteran Jourdan Lewis was once again a starter at Bland’s old spot. Quickly as that all unfolded, it became clear that Bland was unafraid of the circumstances, and before long, that CB1 title shifted over to Bland, with defenses fearing his side of the field.

Fast-forward to the present day. With the pick-six record under his belt, Bland will be welcoming his running mate and fellow ball-hawk Trevon Diggs back. The combination of the two makes for one of the most lethal secondary duos who can torment wide receivers and quarterbacks for years to come.

Who will QBs throw to? How do you attack these two? These questions need answers, and they won’t come easily. The burden of expectation has been set, and with Bland’s career arc rising at an increasing rate, he will be burdened with the “what have you done for me lately” side of the fanbase who will be expecting an encore in 2024.

Based on the first two seasons and everything he has overcome and been able to do in such a short time, Bland won’t run from the pressure, he’ll embrace it. Bland looks to be another young cornerstone to this Cowboys franchise, but what does that mean for his total this season? Is putting the number right down the middle fair?

What say you, BTB? Will DaRon Bland have over or under seven interceptions in 2024?

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