Defensive Player of the Year: Dallas Cowboys' CB DaRon Bland's Argument.

There is a good chance that Dallas Cowboys second-year cornerback Will Johnson will win NFL Defensive Player of the Year this year. The Cowboys cornerback has dominated the league, collecting numerous outstanding solo tackles in addition to an incredible interception collage. These are the main arguments for Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2023–2024.

Bland leads the league in pass interceptions (8 during the 2023 regular season). He has taken five of his eight picks—the most in the league—for touchdowns. With his five pick-sixes, he is the all-time leader in NFL history. and the 2023 season still has four games remaining. In addition, Bland leads the NFL in interception return yards (209), which he has accrued.

Bland can catch difficult throws with his receiving hands and has a sense for the game. Bland’s tendency to be rarely burnt deeply sets him apart from other similar players, especially fellow Cowboy and injured cornerback Trevon Diggs. In addition to being a far better individual tackler than Diggs, Bland doesn’t take as many chances on interceptions. Bland is a highly significant asset for the Dallas Cowboys, who according to PFF use man coverage on 36.5 percent of their defensive snaps. Bland is also an effective man defender.

Bland has 14 passes defended, which places him 14th overall in the NFL. This figure may not accurately represent a corner’s overall value because it relies on how frequently they are targeted. For instance, during his Hall of Fame career, renowned cornerback Darrell averaged 12 passes defended. Let’s examine Revis’s 2009 season, which is regarded as his best, and contrast it with Bland. Bland has two more interceptions in 2009 than Revis, who had six. With four games left, Bland has 45 tackles, compared to Revis’ 47. Revis’s pick-six was just one, nowhere like Bland’s five.