Potential DaRon Bland replacement CB Caelen Carson will be tested early
An announcement has yet to be made who will replace DaRon Bland opposite Trevon Diggs in the starting lineup in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, but as things stand right now it’s looking as if the Dallas Cowboys will turn to their fifth-round draft pick this year, Caelen Carson.
Snagging Carson with the 174th overall pick in the fifth round in the 2024 NFL Draft was viewed as a steal by many. He is expected to be yet another hidden gem the Cowboys have found in the later rounds, much like DaRon Bland, who he could potentially be replacing in the starting lineup while he’s recuperating from foot surgery.
Considering the timetable of Bland’s potential to return, it’s very feasible we won’t see him until after the Cowboys bye week on October 20 in Week 7. If this is indeed Carson’s job now, he will have the opportunity to square off against some of the league’s best wide receivers while Bland is sidelined. Let’s take a look at some of those WRs.
Week 1 – Cleveland Browns
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- Amari Cooper
- Elijah Moore
- Jerry Jeudy
- David Bell
Amari Cooper of course headlines this group and is a nightmare to cover for any CB around the league, let alone a rookie like Caelen Carson. If Cleveland chooses to find a way to match these two up it could be a tough welcome to the NFL for Carson.
Week 2 – New Orleans Saints
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- Chris Olave
- Cedrick Wilson Jr.
- Rashid Shaheed
- A.T. Perry
Chris Olave is one of the best young, and still somewhat underrated, WRs around the league and is another player who could give Dallas’ rookie another tough challenge. He could probably hold his own against the rest of the group, but Olave is a different animal.
Week 3 – Baltimore Ravens
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- Zay Flowers
- Tylan Wallace
- Keith Kirkwood
- Malik Cunningham
Carson may be worried most about coming downhill in run support against Derrick Henry, but Zay Flowers comes in a not-too-distant second. He proved to be a dynamic weapon last year, setting a Ravens rookie record with 77 catches for 858 receiving yards.
Week 4 – New York Giants
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- Malik Nabers
- Wan’Dale Robinson
- Jaylin Hyatt
- Darius Slayton
From top to bottom the Giants have an intriguing and talented WR core who all bring something a little different to the table. Any one of them could give Carson some trouble, but that’s only if Daniel Jones suddenly plays like a competent QB.
Week 5 – Pittsburgh Steelers
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- George Pickens
- Van Jefferson
- Calvin Austin III
- Roman Wilson
It will be interesting to see who starts at QB for the Steelers by the time they take on the Cowboys in Week 5, but whoever it is still has a dynamic and versatile weapon in George Pickens. He’s one of the young up-and-coming WRs who Carson may have trouble containing.
Week 6 – Detroit Lions
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- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Jameson Williams
- Kalif Raymond
- Isaiah Williams
The WR duo of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams will be a challenge for many secondaries to contain in 2024. St. Brown especially is a menace. His ability to make plays from anywhere/everywhere to pick up chunk yards could spell trouble for Dallas’ rookie CB.