Cowboys Having Extension Talks With Micah Parsons

Calvin Watkins reports that the Cowboys have had conversations with LB Micah Parsons‘s agent regarding a contract extension.

Watkins reported last week that the Cowboys have not started discussions with Parsons, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to make $24.007 million in 2025 on his fifth-year option.

Watkins noted that talks could begin at the combine, with the Dallas front office and Parsons’ agent both being present.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero noted the Cowboys have had internal discussions about the possibility of trading Parsons.

The Cowboys will face a challenge balancing a contract for Parsons on top of deals for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, all three of whom are or could be right at the top of the market for their respective positions, as well as leaving enough to fill out the rest of the roster. 

Rapoport and Pelissero explain the Cowboys have to decide whether the best way forward is adding Parsons to that list and making the roster even more top-heavy or exploring a godfather offer with tons of draft picks. 

For what it’s worth, Parsons said in December he wasn’t necessarily prioritizing being the highest-paid defensive player and would prefer to have a deal wrapped up before training camp. 

Parsons, 25, was the former No. 12 overall pick by the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He’s in the final year of a four-year, $17,079,792 rookie contract that included a $9,781,667 signing bonus.

Dallas exercised the fifth-year option for Parsons, and he’s slated to make $21.32 million guaranteed in 2025. 

In 2024, Parsons appeared in 13 games for the Cowboys and recorded 43 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection. 

We’ll have more on Parsons as the news is available.