Cowboys contract talks stall as Micah Parsons grows impatient
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to open training camp in Oxnard, California, all eyes are on Micah Parsons, who is still without a contract extension.
The Dallas Cowboys are just four days away from the start of training camp ahead of the 2025 NFL season. And as they prepare to head to Oxnard, California, all eyes are on Micah Parsons, who is still without a contract extension despite being one of the NFL’s biggest defensive stars, and tensions are heating up.
Jerry Jones dragging his feet on Parsons’ $200M deal
Parsons is looking for a deal that could exceed $200 million, likely positioning him among the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in league history - on par with T.J. Watt’s new $123M extension and Myles Garrett’s $40M average salary.
Although Parsons has been in communication with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, progress has stalled. Parsons voiced his frustration in a recent interview, saying the Cowboys are “making it more complicated than it has to be” and citing a lack of communication.
He could skip the start of camp and face a $40,000 daily fine, though that fine can be waived since he’s still on his rookie deal. He may also choose to attend but not fully participate while negotiations continue.
This standoff mirrors previous contract delays with Cowboys stars like Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, and Dak Prescott, most of whom secured deals late in camp or just before the season. Holdouts in order to put the pressure on to get a deal done don’t seem to really work in the world of the Dallas Cowboys though. The deal will get done. And whether Parsons holds out fully, partially, or not at all, likely won’t make a bit of difference as to when that deal will get done. It will get done when Jerry’s ready to get it done.
The pressure is already on to get the deal done soon, with other pass rushers like Trey Hendrickson also seeking big money threatening to move the market even higher. And yet, Jones still feels waiting it out is the best option, as he famously said last year that they would “like to see more leaves fall.”
“We’d like to see more action. It’s called option quarterback. I’ve spent my life [playing] option quarterback,” said Jones in 2024 ahead of signing Prescott and Lamb. “I want to see some more cards played.”
Well, they’re being played. And they’re pricey. And in the meantime, Parsons is getting impatient.
“We obviously want to get it done early,” Parsons said. “We want that relief off our backs, but, obviously, ownership’s always going to make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be, lack of communication.”
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