April 2: Parsons took umbrage at Jones’ recent comments dismissing the importance of his agent, David Mulugheta. Jones stated that “the agent is not a concern here” and even said that he didn’t know Mulugheta’s name, per Hill.

Parsons fired back in a post on X, saying that he wouldn’t sign a contract without his agents involvement and telling the Cowboys that there would be “no backdoors” in their negotiations. The All-Pro edge rusher asked the Joneses to contact his agent regarding negotiations, but they have not reached out, per Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. Mulugheta has spoken with Cowboys director of salary cap/player contracts Adam Prasifka.

APRIL 1: As of last week, it appeared as though no extension offer had been made by the Cowboys to Micah Parsons. That has apparently changed, and the team is willing to go to record-breaking lengths to get a deal done.

Dallas has submitted an offer which will make Parsons the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback, Clarence Hill Jr. of All DLLS reports. That title currently belongs to receiver Ja’Marr Chase, whose Bengals extension averages $40.25MM per year. Amongst edge rushers in particular (and defenders in general), Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett leads the way at $40MM annually.

Interestingly, Hill adds an agreement is in place following a meeting between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones. Serious extension talks were not believed to have ocurred prior to this latest update. A sticking point with respect to a contract being signed, however, is the fact the summit between Jones and Parsons did not involve the latter’s agent, David Mulugheta. No talks with Mulugheta present have taken place since the Combine, per Hill.

“Some guys want to visit,” EVP Stephen Jones recently said when speaking about Parsons’ situation (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “And some guys don’t want to visit about their money. We respect both ways. But if players want to come in and talk to us, we got an open-door policy, whether it’s Jerry or myself. Micah likes to visit, so that’s a good thing.”

Jerry Jones confirmed on Tuesday that multiple meetings with Parsons have occurred and that an agreement is in place on several contract-related fronts (h/t ESPN’s Todd Archer). Nothing is imminent at this time, however. Nevertheless, it is clear considerable progress has been made toward ensuring the 25-year-old remains in Dallas for the foreseeable future.

Parsons has racked up between 12 and 14 sacks each year to date. He is under contract for 2025 as a result of the team’s decision to pick up his $24.01MM fifth-year option, but a long-term pact will of course be much more expensive. The four-time Pro Bowler has been attached to an asking price of $200MM on his extension, although it is unclear how long such a pact would be. Hitting that total on a five-year deal would match Garrett’s AAV; if the Cowboys are indeed prepared to move Parsons to the top of the defensive pecking order, though, his new deal will need to be shorter or reach an even higher total value.

The Cowboys made a pair of monster long-term commitments in Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last offseason. It quickly became clear a new Parsons accord would need to wait until 2025, and the Penn State product’s initial goal of working out a deal before free agency was pushed back to training camp. Given today’s development, hitting that new target certainly seems feasible.

The team has previously spoken to Parsons about attending voluntary workouts this spring. On that point, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Archer) he expects that to be the case. Dallas’ offseason program begins April 7, and Parsons attending could represent another sign an agreement is close.

The Cowboys took plenty of heat for holding off on CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions until late last summer. Micah Parsons‘ negotiations (or lack thereof) are reminding of Dallas’ 2024, though it is still early.

No substantive Parsons talks have commenced, and no offer is believed to be on the table from the Cowboys just yet. But Parsons has a big number in mind. The fifth-year edge rusher is believed to be pursuing a deal that would make him the NFL’s first $200MM defender, the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins reports. No non-quarterback has reached that number, though the Cowboys’ history would point to the team being interested — depending on term length.

[RELATED: Parsons Has ‘Plan In Place’ For Negotiations]

It is not known if the contract-year dynamo is targeting a four-year, $200MM pact — which would shatter the defender record Myles Garrett just set — or merely a five-year, $200MM deal that would match the Browns All-Pro for AAV. Parsons expressed interest last year in becoming the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, even floating a $40MM-per-year number well before the EDGE market was close to that range.

It would stand to reason Parsons would set his sights on a $50MM-per-year extension to start negotiations, even if that proves unattainable. As of now, only quarterbacks are in the $50MM-AAV club. A three-time All-Pro, Parsons makes sense as the player who could take the defender market there. Even with the cap rising at a rapid rate during the 2020 CBA, the Cowboys are unlikely to be ready to raise the defender rate that high at this point.

Garrett secured $40MM per year despite being set to turn 30 in December. Parsons will be 26 in May. If the Cowboys can convince Parsons to accept a five-year deal, it would be in line with many of their big-ticket contract structures. Dallas has successfully managed to tie down stars to five- and even six-year deals, but the team could not do so with Lamb or Prescott, who each signed four-year extensions. As the cap keeps rising, it would make sense for Parsons to follow suit in an effort to be able to secure a top-market third contract when that time comes.

As for Parsons’ plans regarding voluntary offseason workouts without an extension, Watkins adds the 2021 first-rounder is undecided. Parsons has been an infrequent participant in the past, though he has always reported to minicamp. It would cost him barely $100K to skip the mandatory workout this year. If the Cowboys do not have him signed by June, a minicamp absence should probably be considered in play. Several players, including Lamb, have taken this step during extension talks in recent years. Zack Martin held out of training camp in 2023, and the Cowboys eventually caved by authorizing nearly $40MM guaranteed to close his contract. Those precedents are certainly relevant re: Parsons.

Prescott’s deal, thanks to historic leverage, came in $5MM (in terms of AAV) north of where the QB market had previously plateaued. Lamb is the NFL’s third-highest-paid wide receiver. The Cowboys have shot down Parsons trade rumors, though a December report suggested internal discussions about a potential trade occurred, and appear prepared to pay up — even if it will mean a historically top-heavy payroll. But their pattern of being late to the party regarding extensions could prove costly here.

Garrett already drove the market to $40MM per year — up from Maxx Crosby‘s $35.5MM number reached earlier this month — and T.J. Watt will naturally be interested in topping that. Aidan Hutchinson also should be considered likely to score a deal north of Garrett’s, seeing as he is going into an age-25 season. Those deals coming to pass would give Parsons more ammo. Though, Watt and Hutchinson not moving too far past $40MM per year would also provide the Cowboys with the ability to keep Parsons’ cost in a known neighborhood.

With the first few waves of free agency in the books, teams can turn their attention to working out extensions in a number of cases. That includes Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, although no agreement on that front is expected any time soon.

Parsons is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, but a long-term pact will come at a much higher price than his scheduled $24.01MM for next season. An extension may not require making the four-time Pro Bowler the league’s highest-paid edge rusher; nevertheless, the new deals for Maxx Crosby (Raiders) and Myles Garrett (Browns) have raised the top of the position’s market. Garrett’s Cleveland extension carries an annual average value of $40MM, a figure which will no doubt play a role in Cowboys-Parsons negotiations.

Recent reporting on that front indicated serious contract talks have yet to take place, and NFL Network’s Jane Slater adds no offer has been submitted at this point. Parsons and owner Jerry Jones have been in communication “many times” during the offseason, per Slater, which comes as no surprise. The 25-year-old indicated last month a plan was in place regarding an extension, and preliminary talks opened up earlier in March. This latest update makes it clear, however, that considerable work is still to be done for an agreement to be reached.

Parsons missed only one game across his first three seasons in Dallas, recording between 13 and 14 sacks each year. The Penn State product was limited to 13 contests in 2024, but he still managed 12 sacks and 46 quarterback pressures (the second-highest total of his career). Expectations will be high for continued production on a multi-year deal, one which will of course take into account the cap commitments already made to the likes of quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Dallas had DeMarcus Lawrence in place as part of a starting tandem with Parsons for four years, but the team did not make an offer to the former before seeing him depart for Seattle as a free agent. Veteran Dante Fowler returned to the Cowboys, and he joins an edge rush group which also features recent draftees Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. Retaining cost-effective options at the position will of course be key with Parsons representing a major long-term cap commitment once his deal is in place.

Per Slater, discussions between team and player took place at the Combine but nothing substantive has transpired since then. She adds Parsons’ camp is open to further talks at any time, and it will be interesting to see if negotiations are pursued in the near future as a result.

Midway through the 2024 campaign, Micah Parsons indicated his preference would be for a Cowboys extension to be in place before the start of free agency. That has not proven to be the case, and nothing is imminent between team and player in this situation.

Preliminary talks started earlier this month, opening the lines of communication in advance of what will be a massive extension agreement. Parsons recently noted a plan is in place regarding a deal being worked out, with training camp emerging as the new target with respect to a timeline. No progress has been made at this point, however, WFAA’s Ed Werder reports.

The edge rush market was well-known as one to watch in advance of the 2025 offseason, and as expected it has seen upward movement. Maxx Crosby‘s latest Raiders deal carries an average annual value $35.5MM, a mark which did not last long atop the position’s pecking order. Myles Garrett‘s trade request was rescinded in the wake of his monster extension (four years, $160MM) which was signed days later. Parsons could use those new price points during negotiations once they ramp up.

On that point, NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports serious contract talks have not begun yet. Dallas prioritized new deals for quarterback Dak Prescott and wideout CeeDee Lamb last offseason, eventually working out an agreement on both fronts. Considering Lamb’s came about after training camp began and Prescott’s was made official on the day of the Cowboys’ regular season opener, plenty of time could still be required for Parsons’ new pact to be signed.

The 25-year-old has been a Pro Bowler during each of his four seasons in the NFL, recording at least 12 sacks every time along the way (despite missing four games in 2024). Those factors will help his bargaining position, especially if the Steelers and T.J. Watt hammer out an extension in the near future and if Trey Hendrickson lands a lucrative new deal with the Bengals or an acquiring team. Parsons has publicly stated a willingness to take less than the top of the market on his next deal, but any long-term pact will of course have considerable cap implications for the Cowboys.

Dallas saw DeMarcus Lawrence depart on a Seahawks deal last week after not making an offer to the 11-year veteran. Parsons (who is currently set to play on his $24.01MM fifth-year option next season) remains in the fold as the team’s anchor along the edge, with recent draftees Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland along with reunited veteran Dante Fowler also in place. That group will be key in 2025, the first year with Matt Eberflus in place as defensive coordinator. Attending voluntary offseason workouts this spring is something the team will discuss with Parsons, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News writes. Whether or not traction will have been gained by then will remain an interesting storyline to follow.

Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons has been extremely vocal about wanting to remain in Dallas under an extended contract, especially over the last three months. In what has become typical Cowboys fashion, though, talks between the two parties have not started, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.

To be clear, this seems to directly conflict with a report from just over a week ago from the team’s website, following a meeting between Parsons and team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones. After the meeting, Parsons stated that the talks went well and that “there’s definitely a plan in place.” The more recent report from Watkins seems to indicate that Jones and company didn’t take Parsons’ plan as seriously as Parsons did.

Typically, as Watkins points out, team officials will wait for the NFL Scouting Combine to start contract talks with players’ agents. While Parsons and Jones met in the building where Parsons laid out his expectations for what the team’s website called “an exceptionally complex and lucrative contract,” it appears the source with knowledge of the situation communicating with Watkins is indicating that those preliminary talks were just window dressing until the real talks with Parsons’ agents can begin.

This continues a worrying trend wherein Jones and the Cowboys seem to be operating with no sense of urgency. Waiting to secure extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last year cost the Cowboys millions as other players around the league set new markets at the same positions with their own extensions. Jones’ baffling decision to let former head coach Mike McCarthy‘s contract expire instead of firing him earlier not only gave every other team with an opening a head start on interviewing and hiring replacement head coaches, but he also allowed the assistant coaches’ contracts to expire. When he eventually promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the top position, the new head coach was unable to retain many of his assistants from 2024 as they had already started to explore other opportunities following the expiration of their deals.

In addition, not only have the Cowboys seemingly not been working night and day to retain their best defensive player (perhaps their best player overall) on a long-term deal, but there have also been internal discussions about trading the star pass rusher. With how unabashed Parsons has been about wanting to stay in Dallas, it’s truly stunning to see the Cowboys continue to slow play the situation and explore other options.

Speculation about how Micah Parsons‘ contract situation will play out will no doubt continue until a deal is officially in place. The Cowboys’ All-Pro edge rusher recently provided an update on that front indicating traction could soon be gained.

Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently met to discuss an extension which will tie him to the franchise for the foreseeable future. A deal moving the 25-year-old near the top of the edge rush market (if not to the top of the pecking order) can be expected, although he has publicly noted becoming the NFL’s highest-paid pass rusher may not be necessary to get a deal done. Parsons spoke positively about the nature of his latest conversations with Jones.

“It was good,” the four-time Pro Bowler said (via the team’s website). “I really have a lot of respect for Jerry. We have great conversations all the time. There’s definitely a plan in place, but we’ll just see how everything plays out. There’s been no progress yet, but I’m pretty confident that something will happen, so we’ll see.”

A lack of inroads being made with respect to term and finances on a long-term pact is certainly a noteworthy remark on Parsons’ part. The Penn State product made it clear in December his preference would be to have a deal in place before the start of free agency, although more recently he moved that timeline to the onset of training camp. In any case, a lengthy wait would come as little surprise given how the Cowboys have operated in recent years.

Dallas’ 2024 offseason was defined in large part by the extensions worked out with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The latter engaged in a training camp holdout until his pact was in place, while the news of the former’s record-breaking accord broke hours before the start of the regular season. If Jones and the Cowboys opt for a similar approach with Parsons, it may very well take until the summer for an agreement to be reached.

Set to play on the fifth-year option in 2025, Parsons is due just over $24MM this season. A multi-year pact will check in at a much high price, though, and fitting in a massive raise while balancing the Prescott and Lamb accords will be difficult from a cap perspective. The Cowboys have attempted to shoot down trade speculation, but a report from Super Bowl Sunday indicated Parsons was not pleased with the decision to move on from former head coach Mike McCarthy and added the team has held discussions about the possibility of a trade.

In the absence of anything on that front materializing, attention will continue to be focused on extension talks. Parsons’ latest comments prove no firm timeline exists, but if the plan the parties understand to be in place is followed, he will have a new pact in hand sometime this offseason.