The Cowboys are contract killers.
Given Dallas’ recent history, it was clear that Micah Parsons’ contract negotiations would rumble on all summer long.
What I did not expect was that, in the first week of training camp, the situation would escalate to a point where Parsons would submit a trade request.
Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones, and his son Stephen, began by taking shots at Parsons for the time he missed through injury in 2024. If this was a negotiating tactic from the Book of Jerry, then it is safe to say it failed miserably.
The relationship between the sides has completely deteriorated. Teammates have spoken up in support of Parsons, and in defiance of the continued disrespect star players seem to get when a contract is due.
Here we go again
It all stems from what the front office believes is a ‘handshake deal’ they had with Parsons. This made them think they did not have to deal with the player’s agent.
There is a $100m+ contract to be negotiated and you are not willing to work with a player’s agent. We know the Jones family live in a dream world but this is a step too far, even for them.
From Parsons’ perspective, he may feel there is no way back.
The window to negotiate a contract has been open for 18 months. And other than a claimed one-to-one conversation with Jerry Jones back in March, the Cowboys have not made an offer or even come to the table.
Put some respect on my name
The front office is questioning his leadership, his availability and even his desire to get paid.
As we know from his time in the NFL, Micah Parsons is more than happy to speak his mind. But over the last 12 months, when it has come time to discuss a new contract, he has followed the examples of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and been a ‘good soldier’.
From what I understand, this is less about money and more about respect. As this situation has dragged on, Parsons has become audibly and visibly more agitated and fed up with how he is being treated.
He even shared some of his frustrations on The Undertaker’s podcast ‘Six Feet Under’ earlier this summer. It was a good choice, as the WWE legend knows a thing or two about contract negotiations with a maniacal billionaire.
Could a trade materialise?
I have no doubt that what Parsons shared on social media is truly how he feels. But he must know the odds of being traded are slim.
He is using the tools at his disposal to show his displeasure with the situation. Another move in the chess game that will play out over the next month.
But there is another aspect that has not really been focused on. Which teams can afford the draft capital and have the salary cap room to make the trade a reality?
The most realistic trade comparison would be the Khalil Mack trade from the Raiders to the Bears in 2018.
The Bears coughed up two first-round picks, a third and a sixth to land the 28-year-old. They then immediately made Mack the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at the time: $23.5 million per season.
The likely trade partners
We know Parsons is going to earn more than the $41 million per year that TJ Watt just agreed. But the list of teams able to pay Parsons $42 million per year and give up at least two first-round picks is short.
The Buffalo Bills come to mind as a team that could go all-in. A huge defensive difference maker like Parsons could be the missing piece to win that elusive first Super Bowl. However, as of the time of writing, the Bills are $900,000 over the salary cap.
The Los Angeles Rams received an extra 2026 first-round pick from the Falcons during the 2025 NFL Draft. Could the Rams use it to tempt the Cowboys into dealing their star pass-rusher?
The New England Patriots currently have the most cap space in the NFL with $59 million. Having a rookie QB contract for the next couple of years at least puts the Patriots in a financial position to make a move.
Grabbing the headlines
I am 95% confident a deal gets done and we see Micah Parsons stroll out at Lincoln Financial Field for the season opener as a man who has just made $100 million.
It will hog the headlines all day long, just like when Prescott signed his contract on the opening Sunday of the 2024 season.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. And I know I will be writing about a long and drawn-out saga that guard Tyler Smith will be going through this time next year.
