The Dallas Cowboys‘ Markquese Bell has never been disciplined under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, but that will likely change after his arrest on April 11. After all, the league considers illegal possession of alcohol or drugs as prohibited conduct. On that note, here’s what happened with Bell:

Friday, around 10 p.m., Prosper PD stopped Bell at a traffic stop near the intersection of Prosper Trail and the Dallas Parkway. Reportedly, the officer smelled marijuana in the car, giving him probable cause to search. Less than two ounces of marijuana and a THC e-cigarette were found in Bell’s possession. With two charges against him, he was arrested under the “on-view” incident classification.

The first is possession of a controlled substance under one gram, which is classified as a state jail felony. The second is possession of marijuana under two ounces, a Class B misdemeanor that can carry penalties of up to 180 days in county jail, a fine, or both under Texas law. But his punishment will not end here.

The NFL will likely take action against Bell under its Personal Conduct Policy, which states, “Players convicted of a crime or subject to a disposition of a criminal proceeding are subject to discipline.” One of the points included under this category is the illegal possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or drugs. The league will have to conduct its own investigation as it does with every case.

Once the league understands all the nuances of the arrest and charge, it can then suspend Bell with no pay for several games and charge him a fine. The Cowboys can also take action.

So far, the franchise is aware of the arrest but declined to comment. But they can suspend or even release Bell according to how they see fit. Meanwhile, Bell’s agent, Deiric Jackson, stated that his client wants to let the legal processes play out.

“Certainly let Markquese have his day like anybody else,” Jackson said.

By Saturday afternoon, the Collin County Jail website showed Bell was still in custody. He had completed his magistration hearing. This wouldn’t be the first time Bell has drawn attention during the Cowboys’ offseason, though.

Bell has been in trouble on the field

During training camp ahead of the 2025 season, Bell got into a physical altercation with tight end Tyler Neville. Following that incident, Sports Illustrated reported that head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed the situation directly. With an impromptu meeting, he made it clear that further fights would not be tolerated in practice.

But this time, the situation is off the field and outside the immediate control of the coaching staff. However, just last year, another Cowboys player got into similar trouble in Texas.

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro kick returner KaVontae Turpin was arrested in July last year in Allen. He was stopped due to speeding, but the police found a 9mm pistol in plain sight. They also found less than two ounces of marijuana possession upon searching his vehicle. He was charged with both but was released on a $1,500 bond.

Interestingly, he had also signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the team in March 2025, making him the highest-paid special teams player in NFL history.

On the other hand, Bell’s development comes less than a year after the Cowboys signed him to a contract extension, adding another layer to how the team will evaluate the situation moving forward.

Markquese Bell is playing on a multi-year deal

Bell entered the 2025 offseason as a restricted free agent. The Cowboys had the option to place a tender on him, allowing other teams to submit offers while retaining matching rights and potential compensation. But that never happened due to his undrafted status.

Instead, Dallas used a Right of First Refusal, which aligned with their intent to retain him, and signed Bell to a three-year deal worth up to $12 million, with an average annual value of $4 million. The deal extended a player who initially entered the league as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft.

His early career followed a gradual progression. As a rookie, Bell was inactive in 12 games before appearing late in the regular season as a backup. He recorded one tackle during the stretch. His role expanded in his second season after DeMarvion Overshown suffered a season-ending injury. He appeared in 17 games with 8 starts, and totaled 94 tackles and 3 tackles for loss.

A dislocated shoulder cut his 2024 season short in Week 11. Despite that, the Cowboys remained committed to his development and extended him. In 2025, he appeared in all 17 games, starting three, and recorded 41 tackles with one tackle for loss.

Now, heading into the 2026 season, Bell’s situation has shifted due to his recent arrest. Even so, based on his current contract status and role within the roster, he is still expected to be available for what would be his fifth NFL season.