Just a few weeks away from training camp, one topic is dominating discussions around the Dallas Cowboys. Arguably the franchise’s three best players — CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Dak Prescott — are all hoping for contract extensions this offseason. None have been completed yet as the clock continues to tick for GM/owner Jerry Jones.
Mike Florio believes the Cowboys are messing with a disaster in front of them due to these extensions not getting done.
Just looking at Prescott’s situation alone, Florio points out the cap implications Dallas could be facing by not giving out a fresh contract. As things stand, Prescott could cost well over $50 million in dead cap if he is not on the 2025 roster. Worst case scenario, that dead cap is piled on top of whatever he gets paid moving forward.
“This is the reason they weren’t able to go all-in with free agents,” Florio said Wednesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “They had to figure out Dak’s contract first with that $54.5 million cap charge this year and a $54.5 million dead cap charge next year if they don’t work something out before his contract voids. As a starter, if they don’t sign him before the contract voids, they go above and beyond $54.5 million with whatever cap number he had.”
Nobody truly knows where the priority list for the Cowboys but based on position, Prescott assumedly is No. 1. A top pass rusher in the NFL has to be a close second, though, in Micah Parsons. Someone who claims he is willing to wait for the contract extension but playing a full NFL season comes with risks.
“I don’t care what he said,” Florio said. “He plays a position that is conducive to injury. If you suffer an injury that falls between career ending and something he could recover from to the point where he’s never the same, that prevents him from ever getting the kind of money he already deserves.”
All of this without mentioning Lamb’s situation, who is reportedly willing to hold out of training camp in order to get a fresh deal. Parsons has yet to echo a similar mindset but Florio sees a world where his mind changes.
Not having two of the team’s biggest stars in training camp would be a major problem in his eyes.
“The problem is, they can’t get to him because they have to get Dak solved,” Florio began. “Then they have to get CeeDee solved. Then, they move to Micah. They need to get all three of these done. These should have been done months ago and it’s all potentially coming to a head.
“If CeeDee holds out — and if Micah does what Ezekiel Elliott did five years ago… Even though Micah is saying he’s willing to wait, maybe between now and July 24 and says ‘Screw that, I want my contract. I’m not showing up.’ If two of those three don’t show up for camp, that’s a problem for the Cowboys.”
