FRISCO – With the Pittsburgh Steelers signing T.J. Watt to the richest contract for a non-quarterback, the NFC East can only sit back and laugh at the Dallas Cowboys odd decision to wait … and wait … and wait … on sealing their deal with Micah Parsons.
One guy not really laughing anymore? Micah himself.
Watt’s $41 million average is more than all of the other great defensive players in the game, including the Browns’ Myles Garrett. It’s only increasing the cost for what will eventually come for Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Parsons.
And Parsons is suddenly expressing a bit of frustration here.
Parsons recently appeared on the Six Feet Under podcast with WWE superstar The Undertaker and called out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for dragging his feet, with the star defender saying he “wanted to do the contract last year.”
Said Parsons, “Obviously, ownership’s always going to make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be, lack of communication.”
Will it get done? Of course. Will it be more expensive than it needed to be? Of course.
Are the other contenders in the NFC East – the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders – hoping Dallas stumbles all over itself here … in a way that negatively impacts the Cowboys’ hope for contention?
Of course.
Parsons has been in line for new contract since last season. Dallas chose not to give him that long-term deal in part because they were dealing with other extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
And … The longer the Cowboys waited, the more Parsons’ price went up.
Now, it’s a safe bet that the All-Pro defensive weapon will be paid over $40 million a year. Really, it’s a safe bet to go with $41 million plus, topping Watt’s deal.
Parsons has recorded 52.5 sacks over his first four seasons with Dallas. He has been named an All-Pro three times and has been a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award. He is in the judgment of most deserving of a contract that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in football.
And even if someone wants to argue against that? A contract in that range was and is inevitable.
The Cowboys could have avoided all of this by being proactive … assuming Micah’s agent was willing to play along (and there was no guarantee there.) If they had just signed Parsons when he was first eligible, they could have in theory gotten the Penn State linebacker at a rate – $30 million APY? $35 million? – that allowed them to be more flexible along their path to roster-building.
Because of Jerry Jones’ foot-dragging, they have voluntarily created the possibility of being a step behind their division rivals now. … something the Cowboys can’t afford – even though they will eventually “afford” to pay Micah.
