Markquese Bell Arrested, Cowboys Safety Facing Drug Possession Charges

Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and marijuana, according to Collin County jail records.

Bell's arrest occurred on April 11, per the records, and was made by Prosper (Texas) police. Further details about the circumstances of the arrest have not yet been disclosed.

The possession of a controlled substance is considered a felony. Meanwhile, the marijuana possession is considered a Class B misdemeanor – which Texas' penal code outlines as being punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and a jail sentence of no longer than 180 days, if the offending individual is found guilty.

The Cowboys did not immediately respond to USA TODAY Sports' request for comment about Bell's arrest. Meanwhile, Bell's agent – Deiric Jackson – said his client would let the legal process play out.

"Certainly let Markquese have his day like anybody else," Jackson told the Associated Press.

Even as that legal process plays out, Bell could face potential discipline from the NFL. The league outlines "illegal possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or drugs" as "prohibited conduct" under its personal conduct policy.

Bell has never before faced league discipline under the personal conduct policy, but he has been fined four times for on-field acts.

Bell has played four NFL seasons to date, all with the Cowboys, since going undrafted out of Florida A&M. The 27-year-old safety has appeared in 48 career games with 11 starts and has recorded 142 tackles, four TFL, three forced fumbles, one interception and seven pass defenses.

Bell just finished the first season of a three-year, $9 million extension he signed with Dallas on eve of 2025 free agency. He is set to have a cap hit of just over $2.8 million in 2026, per Spotrac.com, and is owed $2 million in cash for the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys' Markquese Bell arrested on drug possession charges