Call for Traveling: Cowboys solution for CB may have roots in uprooting All-Pro
Call for Traveling: Cowboys solution for CB may have roots in uprooting All-Pro
Cornerbacks don't usually like to travel. Rather than flip from side to side and follow opposing receivers around the field, they typically stick to their respective side and focus on who, and what, comes to them. In 2025 the Dallas Cowboys may not have that luxury.
Two of the Cowboys' top three CBs are expected to miss time early in the year. Both veteran Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavel Revel are recovering from offseason knee surgeries, meaning the Cowboys could start the season severely undermanned at CB. If Dallas trots out DeRon Bland to man the left cornerback spot snap after snap, opponents will just avoid the All-Pro. After all, why target the NFL's single-season Pick-6 champion (interceptions returned for touchdowns) when easier targets are manning CB positions elsewhere?
If the Cowboys really want to flip the script on their opponents in 2025, they may want to ask Bland to do what so many other CBs refuse to do: travel with WR1.
Bland is well acquainted with playing multiple CB positions in the NFL. Not only has he taken hundreds of snaps at both the left and right CB spots in Dallas, but he's also manned the middle, taking on slot WRs as a nickel CB.
In summer OTA's Bland is already showing he's up to the challenge inside. It may not be his ideal position, but it's a position he's experienced in and well-suited for. It's this versatility that could make him a thorn in opposing WR1's sides this season.
If Bland travels, opponents won't be able to dictate matchups like they can against most defenses. It would allow the Cowboys to match their best against the opponent's best, and give depth covermen like Calean Carson, Israel Mukuamu and Kaiir Elam more reasonable matchups along the way.
Asking Bland to move inside and out on any given snap would also require the Cowboys to find another CB capable of playing both inside and out as well. Luckily Dallas might have those players on their roster since Mukuamu has NFL experience doing just that and Carson came to NFL with inside-outside experience in college.
The best way to survive a thin CB corps at the start of this season might be leaning on the versatility and strength of the last remaining All-Pro. Bland better get his passport renewed now because this looks like a great season for travel.
You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
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