Micah Parsons: Cowboys Making Contract More Complicated Than It Has To Be
Micah Parsons is one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive forces, yet his contract situation with the Dallas Cowboys has stretched well into its second year. The star linebacker recently called out team ownership—particularly owner Jerry Jones—for dragging the process out and complicating what he insists should be straightforward.
—
### 🧠 Parsons Speaks Out
Parsons reiterated that both he and his team wanted the deal done early. He highlighted the importance of salary cap percentages, noting that with this year’s cap increase, waiting only makes his eventual contract more expensive. According to Parsons, “all the contracts are based off of percentage,” meaning a delay directly inflates his pay requirements.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Parsons emphasized his continued dedication, attending voluntary workouts and mandatory minicamp. However, he admitted uncertainty around reporting to training camp without a new contract in place.
—
### ⏱️ Why Dallas Is Dragging Its Feet
According to Parsons, the Cowboys chose to prioritize extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year before turning their focus to him. That delay, he said, cost time and leverage.
Adding pressure, the NBA of defensive salaries has soared this offseason—Myles Garrett (\$40M/year), Maxx Crosby (\$35.5M/year), and T.J. Watt (over \$41M/year) have reset the market. Parsons feels the team “made it more complicated than it has to be” by not acting sooner, even as other top-edge rushers secured massive deals.
—
### 🎯 Market Comparisons & Rising Costs
Parsons pointed to the recent contracts of Garrett, Crosby, and Watt as benchmarks. He believes his consistent performance—12+ sacks four seasons running and two All-Pro nods—merits comparable compensation. Entering the final year of his rookie contract under the team option, Parsons is effectively asking the Cowboys to lock in his extension before bigger deals further inflate the market.
Delaying could cost Dallas millions more per season. Some estimates suggest that those extra waiting months could tack on an additional \$5 million per year—potentially \$20 million over a typical four-year contract.
—
### 🔍 What’s at Stake
* **For Parsons**: Confidence and momentum are on his side. He’s made it clear he wants to stay in Dallas—but wants the security and respect of a top-tier payday.
* **For the Cowboys**: The front office risks looking disorganized and penny-pinching. Prior delays with Prescott and Lamb already came under fire. Prolonging this process just as other stars break the bank doesn’t reflect well.
* **For the team’s culture**: Fans and analysts are questioning Dallas’s playbook—prioritizing cost management over player relations may backfire, especially with training camp looming.
—
### ✅ Final Take
Micah Parsons has the leverage, the production, and the urgency to justify a landmark extension. His frustration with the process is understandable—and increasingly validated by market evidence. The Cowboys will likely have no choice but to pay up—but by waiting, they’ve risked more than just dollars. They’re risking trust and justifying criticisms that contract handling is unnecessarily complex in Dallas.
It’s high time to wrap this up—Parsons wants the deal done, and at this point, so do the Cowboys.
Leave a Reply