The Micah Parsons contract situation continues to drag on. In April, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, tried to circumvent Parsons’ agent and negotiate directly with the linebacker with little success. Now, a little more than two weeks before the start of training camp, the Cowboys’ superstar linebacker is still without a contract extension.
Considering his importance to the Cowboys’ defensive scheme, getting his signature on a contract might seem urgent. However, looks can be deceiving regarding Dallas’ front office strategy.
Why the Cowboys Are in No Rush to Sign Micah Parsons
The biggest holdup is that everyone in the league is on vacation. It’s early July, the NFL’s traditional dead period when front office executives, agents, and players scatter to beaches and golf courses nationwide.
“Yeah, so this is kind of a relaxed situation,” said ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on ESPN’s Fowler’s Files. “You know, when I talk to people involved, they’re like, ‘look, it’s a lull in the summer right now, there’s not a lot going on. People are on vacation, team officials are out on the beach somewhere.”
The ESPN insider explained that this summer lull is actually standard operating procedure for NFL front offices.
“Typically, they do their deals late in the calendar. You know, late August, early September. We’ve seen that with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and their other big deals,” Fowler reasons.
Pass rush market has exploded. By summer’s end, at least six of top-end rushers should or will have secured mega deal since March.
Taking stock of T.J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons status on @SportsCenter with @SkubieMageza pic.twitter.com/kaLLODTs0h
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 5, 2025
While it may seem like the Cowboys are dragging their feet, Dallas brass is doing what they tend to do: wait until the last minute to sign a big-name player to a big-money contract. This pattern has become predictable for Jones and the front office. For perspective, receiver CeeDee Lamb didn’t sign his contract until 12 days before the 2024 season opener.
The timing strategy makes sense from a business standpoint. Dallas knows Parsons isn’t going anywhere, and waiting allows them to see how other pass rusher contracts play out first. It also keeps leverage on their side as training camp approaches.
What Parsons’ Contract Demands Really Mean for Dallas
Parsons seeks to eclipse Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett’s $40 million yearly and become the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. The linebacker can, more or less, do a “hold in” until he gets his contract. When training camp starts on July 21, and he’s not signed, he can attend practice but not participate, which would not trigger any fines.
Parsons has 52.5 sacks in 63 games and is a four-time Pro Bowler who has clarified that the longer Jones drags out negotiations, the higher his price will be. That’s innovative business on his part, especially with the pass-rush market heating up across the league. Garrett is the league’s highest-paid defensive player, with an average of $40 million per season. The league’s highest-paid non-quarterback is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, at $40.25 million per year.
Those numbers put Parsons’ demands in perspective. He’s not just asking for defensive player money, he wants to reset the entire non-quarterback market. For his part, Parsons intends to eclipse the $200 million mark on his contract extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The Cowboys know they’ll eventually pay up. Parsons is too valuable to their defense and too young to let walk. But true to form, Dallas will make everyone sweat it out until the very last minute.