At a time not too incredibly long from now, Micah Parsons will receive a contract extension from the [Dallas Cowboys](https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/). Since stepping on the field in 2021, this former 12th overall pick from Penn State has continuously wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The Cowboys were fortunate to get him, considering they were targeting one of the top two cornerbacks in this draft class, yet they were taken back-to-back in the two picks right before them. They were also fortunate that this super athletic off-ball linebacker emerged as one of the best edge rushers in the league.
The time has come to pay up, and that’s what the Cowboys will do when Parsons signs his new deal. There is growing frustration among the fanbase that this deal isn’t done already. It’s become a common thing for this football team to drag their feet when it comes to these contract negotiations. Why should this be any different?
While there’s quite a bit of hoopla across the media with these contract ordeals, it’s really just business as usual. So, why does it feel like such a huge mess? A big reason for that is that there are a lot of narratives thrown out there that are misleading. To gain a better understanding of what’s really happening, let’s run through those narratives and try to determine which ones hold water.
**MYTH #1: They should have extended him last year**
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Parsons became first eligible for an extension last year. Had the front office signed him then, his price would have been cheaper because we all know that with each new year, the cost goes up because the salary cap goes up.
However, to sign him last year would mean that Parsons and his representation would have to agree. Why would they do that? Why would he sign a contract when a bigger one is right around the corner?
Most contract extensions are given when there is one year left on the deal, which is this year for Parsons. It’s rare that players opt to do it early, and if they do, there has to be a reason for it. The Cowboys lucked out when they signed Tyron Smith with a lengthy eight-year deal with two years left on his deal. Now, there was a lot of stuff going on with Smith and his family with money battles, but a $100 million carrot was dangled in front of him, and he took it. Parsons’ representation (Athlete’s First) is not going to succumb to such temptations.
**MYTH #2: T.J. Watt's contract will jack up his price**
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Another narrative that builds up steam is the idea that every new extension that happens for a player at the same position drives up the asking price. In that scenario, everyone would be waiting, right?
In this business, that is the NFL, agents talk to other agents, owners talk to other owners, and agents and owners talk to each other. Everyone is talking. It’s hard to believe that with all the communication that goes on and advanced analytics that is used to determine a player’s value that the relevant people aren’t already privy. Nobody is tapping their fingers together, anticipating the surprise. It’s their job to know and they know.
So, while we wait to learn the value of Watt’s average annual salary, it seems very likely that others already know. Just as they already have a strong sense about what Parsons' price will be. Waiting doesn’t equal more expensive.
**MYTH #3: The Joneses are bumbling fools**
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The front office talks so much about being responsible financially, so it would be very strange for them to behave in a manner that would make a player more expensive. Yet, that is what people believe is happening. The Cowboys wait too long, and it costs them more money because Jerry and Stephen are really bad at managing this cap thing. Does that track?
We hear things like the Cowboys love to stay in the news, or that they have their money tied up elsewhere, as potential reasons for not getting deals done sooner, but is that really what you believe is happening?
We’ve had the luxury of hearing agents give us a behind-the-scenes look at contract negotiations, and they will be the first to tell you that the Joneses know what they’re doing. It may not make a lot of sense to us about what is going on, and they aren’t perfect, but this notion that the front office is inept when it comes to contract negotiations is all based on fan emotion and not actual data.
**So, what’s the holdup?**
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This is where things get tricky because until someone spills the beans sometime in the future, we are left speculating. What we do know is that both sides are pushing for more money. Parsons wants more financial security, and the Cowboys want more cap flexibility, and they are both justified in fighting for that. Ultimately, this battle will end very close to his market price, but in the meantime, both sides will continue to fight using whatever leverage they have.
Speaking of that leverage, if they aren’t able to get a deal done this year, the Cowboys have an ace in the hole in the form of the franchise tag. Instead of becoming the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL, Parsons could end up with a one-year cost that is the average of the top-five paid edge rushers in the league. He knows that, his agents know that, and the Joneses know that.
If Parsons has great representation like Dak Prescott did, he could choose to bet on himself and turn the leverage in his favor by having the patience to play this year on his fifth-year option, next year on the tag, and then move towards entering the open market in free agency. But something like that is a big gamble, and it means that big payday is still a ways away.
With all these factors in play, it’s easier to see why these negotiations are not always cut and dry. If the Cowboys get longer terms, that’s a huge win for them in the grand scheme of things. If Parsons secures more guaranteed money, that’s big for him. It sounds cliché, but it’s just business, and the Cowboys’ front office is always looking for opportunities to give them more spending power even if it’s not apparent to us.