Cowboys: Contract extension talks with Micah Parsons put on hold for now

After the Dallas Cowboys opened their 2024 season by signing new contracts with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, all eyes are on linebacker Micah Parsons and his chance to sit at the table and earn the next big payday.

However, according to the team, fans should hold off on their expectations for the likely mega-deal for the defensive star until the end of the Cowboys’ 2024 season.

Parsons, the All-Pro pass rusher who has terrorized opposing teams with 41.5 sacks from the perimeter, is eligible for an extension as he begins the fourth year of his rookie contract, originally signed for four years and $17.1 million in 2021.

The Cowboys have a club option for the 2025 season that allows them to buy into his five-year clause before the 2026 first-round pick tests the market for the first time.

After the season-opening win against the Cleveland Browns last Sunday, Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President of the Dallas Cowboys, told local radio station 105.3 The Fan that talks with Parsons will not go deep as her husband focuses on the upcoming schedule. The franchise will resume those talks once the offseason begins.

“It’s definitely not something that’s on the table right now. Micah has made a conscious decision that he believes he can have an even better year,” Jones said. “I think his play speaks louder than words.”

“I think he’s expecting a great year under (Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer). And then he’ll probably feel comfortable talking about it.”

The main reason for Parsons’ decision to wait to sign a new contract appears to be that he wants to put together another record-setting season to sweeten his potential payout. In his current rookie contract, the 25-year-old earns a base salary of $2.9 million with a signing bonus of $2.45 million, leaving the Cowboys with a salary cap of $5.43 million for the 2024 season.

Parsons has definitely worked his way up the NFL rankings, earning him a lucrative long-term commitment from the Cowboys, who selected him 12th overall and eight picks ahead of the Giants, who traded down and ended up choosing wide receiver Kadarius Toney. In 51 games played, Parsons has totaled 217 tackles, 41.5 sacks, nine pass deflections, seven forced fumbles and four fumbles recovered, making him one of the best edge rushers in the league.

Last season, he had the best outing of his career attacking the quarterback, collecting 103 pressures, including 14 sacks and 18 hits, and led the Cowboys defense in pass rush with a PFF grade of 93.7. Along with his 64 tackles, he ranked first in the NFL Category “Pass Rush Win Rate” at 35 percent and was the only edge player with a success rate above 30 percent in his 238 eligible snaps.

Parsons has always been a threat when facing the New York Giants. In six career games against his divisional opponent, the Penn State product has recorded three sacks, all in the last four meetings, and 10 total pressure situations. His ability to outwit blockers with a carousel of swim moves has made him a massive threat to the Giants’ weak offensive line, which often has little success slowing down his presence in the pocket.

While he may feel like the timing isn’t right for talks about a new contract, Parsons would be the latest example of a player betting on himself in hopes of a bigger payday. It’s not like he’s going into this with a huge grudge, but if he can find a way to match or exceed his 2023 numbers, that means he’ll get a ton of money and stay out of the way of the other three NFC East teams and the rest of the league for longer.

The Cowboys certainly have the financial means to sign him early, as they did with teammates Lamb and Prescott last month. Right now, Parsons is all about on-field performance over money, and if all goes well, his performance in the spring will put him right at the negotiating table.