Micah Parsons Holdout Threatens Cowboys’ Super Bowl Hopes—What’s Really at Stake?

Watching the Dallas Cowboys twiddle their thumbs while the calendar ticks closer to training camp has me scratching my head — and I’m not alone. Micah Parsons, that relentless edge rusher lighting up defenses and a four-time Pro Bowler to boot, finds himself stuck in limbo, waiting on a contract extension that just hasn’t materialized yet. You’d think a star of his caliber would be off the market by now, right? Yet here we are, with Jerry Jones apparently hesitating just as other big names like T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson also hang in the balance. Parsons has made it clear he’s gunning to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league — a goal that’s only going to force the Cowboys’ owner to dig deeper into his pockets. The drama unfolds with a handshake agreement from March yet no formal word to Parsons’ agent, stirring up all sorts of questions about just how negotiations are slipping through the cracks. With talks influenced by what Watt is pursuing in Pittsburgh, things are bound to get pricier than anyone first imagined. Parsons aims to settle this saga before July 21, otherwise, he’s all in to show up—but not practice—once camp kicks off. The clock’s ticking, and money’s on the line in a big way. LEARN MORE

The four-time Pro Bowler acknowledged he plans to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, and with edge rushers T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson also awaiting contract extensions, Parsons said it’s likely going to cost Jerry Jones more money.Parsons is hopeful of completing a deal before the Cowboys begin training camp on July 21. Otherwise, he said he will report but not practice.No one can figure out what the Cowboys are doing by waiting to sign their star players to contract extensions. They have even edge rusher Micah Parsons puzzled.“It’s going to cost them more,” Parsons told Clarence Hill of All City DLLS on Thursday.Parsons became eligible for a contract extension after the 2023 season. He still is waiting.

He is headed into the final year of his rookie deal scheduled to make million on the fifth-year option.Parsons told Hill he has seen the deal Watt is seeking from the Steelers, and it is more than he and Jones discussed. Thus, Parsons expects that his final number will go higher than originally thought.Parsons and Jones confirmed to Hill they had a handshake deal in March, but Jones never called Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, to finalize it.The highest-paid non-quarterback is Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who is making .25 million annually.