The contract dispute between edge rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys still has no clear end in sight, and it could even stretch into the start of the regular season, similar to what happened with Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs last year.
But that doesn’t mean Parsons isn’t preparing for the season in his own way. The star defender posted a message on his Instagram stories while working out alongside teammates, as he continues to wait for a resolution with the franchise.
Cowboys EDGE Rusher Micah Parsons Shares a Message Through His Instagram Account
The 2025 NFL offseason has put immense pressure on general managers with star edge rushers awaiting new contracts. Recent extensions for Maxx Crosby and, soon after, Myles Garrett, have reset the market and established new benchmarks for the elite at the position.
Garrett became the first defender to break the $40-million-per-year barrier, a deal that complicated negotiations for teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals, who are also in contract standoffs with T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson, respectively.
Amid negotiations, Parsons shared clips on his Instagram stories of training sessions with teammates. In on of his stories, he shared the message: “That it do! Just work!”
The star edge rusher has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay with the Cowboys, but he’s also made it clear that he expects to be compensated fairly for the impact he brings on the field. Parson’s next contract now is expected to be in an average of over $40 million per year, to top Garret’s contract with the Cleveland Browns.
I estimate Micah Parsons’ next contract to be…
If he does a four-year deal, $162 million ($40.5 M annually)
If he does a five-year deal, $210 million ($42 M annually) pic.twitter.com/zBNkGdrLGY— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) June 28, 2025
Earlier this month, Parsons put the pressure on Jerry Jones, saying he would attend minicamp without a new deal and was ready to win a Super Bowl, but that everything was now in the owner’s hands. True to his word, he showed up for the mandatory practices, but a contract extension remains unsigned, with no signs of resolution in the near future.
The big issue is that Dallas waited too long to extend its biggest star, and now the average salary for elite edge rushers is higher than ever. Garrett, who currently holds the largest deal at the position, recently said in an interview that he believes Parsons is worth every penny, and the numbers back it up.
Since entering the league, Parsons has recorded at least 12 sacks in each of his four seasons, earned two First-Team All-Pro selections and one Second-Team nod, and won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.
The Cowboys’ Super Bowl hopes depend on a balanced team on both sides of the ball, and Parsons is not only the leader of the defense, but perhaps even the best player on the roster.