Christian Parker arrived in Dallas with a reputation as a cornerback developer, having worked with Pat Surtain II in Denver. But the NFL has a long history of cornerbacks who got paid on the strength of a spectacular year and…
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker stated that the team needs more from cornerback DaRon Bland amid his ongoing struggles during the 2026 NFL season. Parker noted that while Bland is battling and has had positive moments, he must consistently finish contested plays. The critiques come as Dallas attempts to improve a pass defense that has struggled through the opening eight games of the year.
Bland, who signed a four-year, $92 million extension in August 2025, has surrendered an NFL-high 438 coverage yards and has zero interceptions so far in 2026. Pro Football Focus ranks him 91st out of 102 qualified cornerbacks with a 43.1 grade. The Cowboys defense currently ranks last in the league, allowing 385.4 yards per game as the team sits at a 3-5 record.
Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.
