The Pittsburgh Steelers' busy offseason continued Thursday, with T.J. Watt agreeing to a record-setting extension. [The new deal is for](https://stillcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-finally-sign-superstar-t-j-watt-to-record-breaking-extension-01k0d1c9h644) three years and $123 million with $108 million guaranteed, edging out Ja'Marr Chase and Myles Garrett as the league's highest-paid non-quarterback. The deal is a win for both sides, as Watt gets plenty of security without a longer commitment from the Steelers.
As big of a win as it is for Pittsburgh, it could be equally as big a loss for teams around the league who also have pass rushers looking for new deals. The rival Cincinnati Bengals immediately come to mind, who are still [embroiled in a contract dispute](https://stillcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-rival-cincinnati-bengals-training-camp-nightmare-trey-hendrickson-01k0c99a8tpe) with Trey Hendrickson.
It's an old rival, however, who could be most affected by Watt's mega deal. The Dallas Cowboys have been in discussions with star edge rusher Micah Parsons this offseason, and the price for his eventual extension just went up.
Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt deal causes major concerns for Cowboys
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Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and he has already proven to be one of the most dominant players in the NFL. He has amassed 52.5 sacks in just 63 career games, and his ability to win quickly may be the best in the entire league. Nobody at the edge position boasts more raw athleticism, and he continues to develop into a well-rounded player each passing season.
The Cowboys already missed the opportunity to sign him before Myles Garrett's massive extension with the Cleveland Browns, and now Watt and the Steelers have upped to price even more. There is also the looming extension for the Detroit Lions' Aidan Hutchinson, who may be less established but could command a deal just as, if not more, expensive than Watt's.
Dallas has had a bad habit of missing ideal windows to extend their stars, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb both signing deals that could have been significantly cheaper. Now, they are doing the same with Parsons. It's fair to wonder if they can even afford to sign him at this point, if they want to be competitive long-term.
Paying three players as much as they would be paying that trio would be hard to navigate, even with all of the potential cap shenanigans teams use nowadays. Not signing Parsons is just as scary, however, considering the state of their defense. Things could get bleak in Dallas if they can't figure out a way to make it work for both sides.
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