Cowboys Defensive Back Markquese Bell Arrested on Drug Charges North of Dallas

McKinney, Texas — Dallas Cowboys defensive back Markquese Bell was arrested Friday night on marijuana and controlled-substance possession charges after a traffic stop in Prosper, a fast-growing suburb north of Dallas, authorities confirmed Saturday.

According to Prosper police, an officer detected the odor of marijuana while speaking with Bell during the stop. A subsequent vehicle search yielded less than two ounces of marijuana and a THC vape cartridge. Bell, 27, was booked into the Collin County jail on misdemeanor marijuana possession and a related controlled-substance charge, police said.

The Cowboys organization acknowledged the incident through a team spokesman but offered no additional comment. Agent Deiric Jackson, representing Bell, struck a measured tone: “Certainly let Markquese have his day like anybody else,” Jackson said, indicating that his client will allow the legal process to unfold.

An undrafted free agent out of Florida A&M in 2022, Bell has carved out a steady role on special teams while serving as a key reserve in the secondary. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games in each of the past two campaigns, logging 94 tackles in 2023 and tying for the team lead with eight stops in the Cowboys’ wild-card loss to Green Bay. Entering the second season of a three-year, $9 million contract, Bell has accumulated 48 career appearances with 11 starts.

The arrest comes at a pivotal point in the offseason as teams prepare for organized workouts ahead of training camp. Bell’s availability for upcoming team activities could hinge on the resolution of the charges.