Micah Parsons‘ contract situation makes no sense. He has delivered everything you’d want from a franchise player. He’s a fan favorite, produced at an elite level, and is relentless on the field. In four seasons, he’s been a Pro Bowler every year, a two-time first-team All-Pro, and finished second, second, and third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He’s not just elite, he’s the best player on the team.
And yet, he still doesn’t have a long-term contract.
The Micah Parsons Contract Situation Is Indefensible
Other Stars Have Gotten Their Money—What’s Going On Here?
Other stars from Parsons’ 2021 draft class have already signed big-money deals.
Ja’Marr Chase became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL this March when he agreed to terms on a four-year, $161 million extension. Patrick Surtain II—the reigning Defensive Player of the Year—signed a four-year, $96 million contract with the Denver Broncos last September. And Penei Sewell, the anchor of the Detroit Lions’ offensive line, inked a four-year, $112 million extension of his own.
Contract negotiations are more complex than most fans care to understand (fair), but not having Parsons locked in yet is crazy. Yes, he wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback. So what? He should be. Get the deal done.
So, What’s The Holdup?
Parsons is at voluntary OTAs—for now. Ownership and the coaching staff have asked him to be present, and he’s obliged. But what happens when training camp rolls around? He’s implied that he won’t be there if there’s no deal in place. Who could blame him?
More importantly, what does it continue to say about the Cowboys as an organization that they routinely drag their best players through drawn-out negotiations? They waited until the last possible moment to pay Dak Prescott. They did the same thing with CeeDee Lamb. And now they’re doing it again with maybe the best defensive player they’ve ever drafted.
Jerry Jones is a savvy businessman, and Stephen Jones is a highly capable executive. So why are they dragging this out? Even the most casual observer understands that the longer you wait to sign a superstar, the more expensive they get.
Jerry has a history of letting the market set itself before committing to a number. It’s possible he’s waiting to see how the Trey Hendrickson situation unfolds. But honestly, that’s just bad business. Parsons is a superior player, and his contract number is going to exceed Hendrickson’s no matter what. He’s looking to exceed the Ja’Marr Chase number. Trey Hendrickson isn’t swimming in those contract waters.
Kicking the can doesn’t create leverage. It only inflates the price tag.
You Can’t Build A Culture While Undermining Your Leaders
When the team drags its feet on paying a star player, the rest of the locker room takes notice—it famously happened to Emmitt Smith way back when. Now, they’ve watched it happen with Dak, with CeeDee, and now Micah—the guy Jerry wants to see show up for voluntary stuff and also “elevate leadership.”
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been preaching culture from the moment he was hired—accountability, intensity, competition, camaraderie. That’s great. But how exactly does that culture take hold when the organization routinely disrespects its best players at the negotiating table?
You want your stars to lead? Then treat them like leaders. Parsons is at voluntary OTAs when he has every right/reason to stay at home. He’s showing up, setting the tone, and putting in the work. What message does it send to the rest of the roster when that guy, your best player and most visible personality, is being asked to do more while the front office plays financial hardball?
You can’t build a winning culture if your locker room doesn’t believe in the way leadership operates. Right now, it’s hard to believe this organization is aligned from the top down.
The Mixed Messages Are The Message
If you’re confused about where things currently stand with Parsons’ contract, you’re not alone—so are the people running the team.
During league meetings, Jerry Jones said he and Parsons had come to an agreement on the bones of a deal—length, guarantees, and overall money. But those talks didn’t include Parsons’ agent. “I know about the years, and I know about the guarantees,” He said. “I know about those kinds of things, and really, it’s close enough to work on a number.”
Stephen Jones, however, painted a different picture. “If we could sign Micah to a number we wanted to sign him to, we’d do it right now,” he said. “But right now, there’s a difference in what we feel is the right number and what he feels like is the right number.”
That sounds like a pretty big disconnect.
And if that weren’t enough, Jerry has also said that he feels “no urgency” to get a deal done. No urgency? For your best player? Come on.
Parsons has said all the right things publicly. He knows the importance of training camp, and he understands what leadership looks like. But he’s also hinted that if there’s no contract, he might not be there. And who could blame him?
Cowboys fans know this story all too well. Whether this time plays out differently remains to be seen. But the point remains: you can’t build a winning culture while sending mixed signals to the players, especially to the one player who does everything right.
Micah Parsons’ contract situation makes no sense. Get the deal done.
Main Image: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images