When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Micah Parsons 12th overall out of Penn State in the 2021 Draft, there was no knowing what type of player he would become in the NFL.
The answer? A dominant one.
In four seasons with the Cowboys, Parsons has accumulated four Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pros, a Defensive Rookie of the Year, and consistent top votes for Defensive Player of the Year.
One of the lone bright spots on a faltering Dallas defense of late, Parsons has recorded at least 12 sacks each campaign (despite only playing in 13 games in 2024) and sits at 52.5 through 63 career games.
However, despite Parsons entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Jones family-led front office does not appear to view him as a priority. According to NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the two parties are “further away from a deal” than in late March.
The Cowboys’ puzzling antics continue, and this time, it could cost them a potential Hall of Fame defender. Dallas did lock in tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million deal. It has also devoted significant coin to Dak Prescott ($60 million AAV) and CeeDee Lamb ($34 million AAV), and will need to get creative with their almost $32 million remaining in cap space for Parsons.
Pittsburgh Steelers OLB T.J. Watt ($41 million AAV) and Cleveland Browns EDGE Myles Garrett ($40 million AAV) might be a tick better than Parsons as all-around players, but the margin is razor thin, and Parsons will assuredly land that type of money.
The question is, will it be with the Cowboys, or somebody else?