Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has once again managed to have yet another season with a relatively calm and lazy offseason. As the NFL prepares for the first preseason towards the end of the month, the Cowboys are yet to confirm the extension of one of their most important player, Micah Parsons.
Parsons, drafted 12th overall by the Cowboys in 2021, has proven his worth over and over again. In four seasons, he has recorded 256 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and has earned four Pro Bowl mentions and two First Team All-Pro. In 2024, he registered 12 sacks, 43 tackles, one pass defended, and two forced fumbles. In 2021, he also became the first-ever Dallas Cowboys player to win the AP News Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In four seasons, he has compiled a resume that is poised to earn him one of the richest contract extensions in NFL history. However, with training camp fast approaching, no deal has been finalized. Nevertheless, the All-Pro defender claimed that he’s unconcerned and focused on letting his play do the talking.
Speaking at his youth football camp in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Parsons offered a clear message on how he’s approaching the situation.
I just work harder. Like, to me, I look at it like if people don’t see your value, you don’t cry and sit down. You just work harder. You got to show people your value. I just think that’s the difference. Like I go, OK, bet, and I just work.
Micah Parsons told PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh
Micah Parsons heavily confident on the contract extension
The market for elite defensive talents has boomed in the offseason. In addition to Parsons, TJ Watt, Trey Hendrickson, and Aidan Hutchinson are all eyeing new contracts. Among the three, Watt and Hendrickson have skipped offseason workouts. There are heavy rumors that Watt might not be a Steeler upcoming NFL season.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson, who sat out for most of the last season, became eligible for a new deal entering his fourth year.
Amidst the same, Micah Parsons claimed that every situation is unique and there’s no direct connection between his negotiation and the others in the league. He pointed out that he’s younger than Hendrickson and the fact that Hutchinson is coming off an injury. All Parsons seemed to care was the fact that he’s “going to get his no matter what.”
Parsons is also quite knowledgeable about how contracts in the NFL work. He clearly explained that the salary cap would be the primary factor in his deal. Earlier this year, the Cleveland Browns reset the market by signing former DPOY Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million extension, paying him $40 million annually.
You know what I mean? Like, the markets change every year. Their salary cap went up, like, another 18% this year. So, if you want to know contracts, all the contracts are based off of percentage. Like, each player, a high-paid player, takes a percentage of the salary cap. So, it’s not really the number. It goes off by the salary cap.
Parsons explained
For now, Jones and the Cowboys can take comfort in knowing that Parsons is focused on performance over posturing. Unlike last year’s situation with CeeDee Lamb, the standout edge rusher has remained active during the offseason, fully participating in team workouts.
