The Dallas Cowboys had one major hurdle to overcome this NFL offseason. But just like last summer, they haven’t made a deal with pass rusher Micah Parsons yet.
Last year, fans watched a similar situation unfold with quarterback Dak Prescott, which ended with him becoming the highest-paid player in league history. This year, the long wait has led many to wonder if Parsons will reach the highest-paid non-QB value that many expected, especially with Myles Garrett and Ja’Marr Chase resetting the market.
But according to Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, just one factor is holding up the Parsons negotiation.
What Is Jerry Jones’ Key Hurdle to Micah Parsons Negotiation?
Parsons, since entering the NFL as the 12th overall pick in 2021, has been one of the league’s most consistent and dominant defenders.
A Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Pro, Parsons’ individual impact has been hard to match. As a result, a massive contract extension is expected sooner rather than later. And according to Jones, he’s not afraid to pay big money to a franchise cornerstone.
Speaking on the negotiations, senior NFL reporter Jori Epstein reported, “Most everything that I have ever had success with, I’ve overpaid for. But I’ll tell you, I’ve had it well-analyzed when I did it.
“Usually, I’m a fat payer. I’m not bashful about sending the money out,” said Jones.
Jerry Jones on Micah Parsons negotiation: "Most everything that I have ever had success with, I've overpaid for. But I'll tell you, I've had it well-analyzed when I did it…
"Usually, I'm a fat payer. I'm not bashful about sending the money out."
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 3, 2025
Yet, a deal hasn’t been reached. Over time, the delay in these contract talks has become more confusing. Just recently, Jones made it seem like the agent wasn’t a concern, in what some saw as a disrespectful comment.
But this time, he clarified the two things he needs from Parsons. First, “To be the player that he wants to be paid as, he has to be a tremendous leader for the Dallas Cowboys.”
But that wasn’t all.
Jerry Jones on Micah Parsons: "To be the player that he wants to be paid as, he has to be a tremendous leader for the Dallas Cowboys.
"I want to personally have total & complete satisfaction that I’ve got a commitment from him & that I can see that it’s not just contract talk." https://t.co/panF1slBqU
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 3, 2025
Second, “I want to personally have total & complete satisfaction that I’ve got a commitment from him & that I can see that it’s not just contract talk.”
But with the agent situation escalating — as Parsons fired back a strong warning backing David Mulugheta — many are starting to question whether going after the high-profile agent was the best strategy from Jones.
Last year, the Cowboys had the 25th-ranked defense on PFSN’s Defense+ metric, their worst finish in recent memory after three straight years in the top five. Some of that was due to injuries, including Parsons, who missed four games and posted his lowest sack total yet (12).
If Dallas wants to stay competitive and end a Super Bowl drought that’s now more than 30 years long, they need to build a complete roster. Parsons is a huge part of that, but with contract talks still stalled, is change a real possibility?