Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

Cowboys, Commanders Did Not Make Free Agent Offers To Saquon Barkley

June 30th, 2025 at 12:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last year’s edition of the HBO Hard Knocks: Offseason series featured plenty of insights into Saquon Barkley‘s negotiating process with the Giants. His departure on the open market took place in the form of an Eagles pact (one which proved to be quite worthwhile, to say the least) after other inquiries were fielded.

Barkley has previously noted that he received four offers during his free agency last spring. At least two of those were more lucrative than the three-year, $37.75MM pact he ultimately signed with Philadelphia. Giants owner John Mara was notably concerned about the possibility of Barkley signing with an NFC East rival, but it turns out the Eagles were the only suitor in that division.

The 2024 rushing champion said at a recent charity softball game (video link) that neither the Cowboys nor the Commanders reached out to express free agent interest. Dallas has been the subject of criticism at that position given the links made between the team and All-Pro Derrick Henry. The Cowboys never made an offer in his case, paving the way for a Ravens agreement and a season which featured 2,114 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns. Henry parlayed that production into a Baltimore extension this offseason.

Dallas saw Tony Pollard expectedly depart in 2024 after playing on the franchise tag the previous season. The team’s committee approach did not work as planned, and Rico Dowdle assumed starting duties en route to a career year. The former UDFA topped 1,000 rushing yards and took a deal with the Panthers on the open market. Efforts to replace his production resulted in one-year contracts for Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. The Cowboys also selected Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah on Day 3 of this year’s draft.

The Commanders, meanwhile, have relied on Brian Robinson Jr. for each of the past three seasons. Austin Ekeler was added in free agency last spring. That tandem (along with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels) helped Washington to a third-place finish in rushing in 2024, and it will remain in place for at least one more season. Barkley certainly would have added more potential to the team’s backfield, but given the team’s emphasis on defensive changes during the transition to the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime it is understandable no pursuit took place on that front.

On the back of his historic debut Eagles season, Barkley landed an extension moving him to the top of the position’s pecking order. The 28-year-old has no intention or retiring any time soon, so he is in line to remain in Philadelphia for years to come. That will ensure several more matchups against the Cowboys and Commanders in the coming years.

Cowboys Could Target CB Addition

June 26th, 2025 at 12:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Little movement on the free agent front is expected during the break between minicamps wrapping up and training camps beginning around the NFL. When moves are made next month, though, the Cowboys are among the teams which could afford a notable addition.

If a free agent is to be pursued this summer, Jon Machota of The Athletic writes cornerback will be a position to watch closely (subscription required). Dallas is set to rely on returnee Trevon Diggs and third-round rookie Shavon Revel Jr. once both are fully healthy. It remains to be seen when that will take place, however, and Diggs is a candidate to begin the season with an IR-designated for return status or on the team’s PUP list as he rehabs from knee surgery.

In either of those cases, Diggs would miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. With Revel working his way back from the ACL tear which ended his college career, the Cowboys could make a one-year addition ahead of training camp to give them a veteran depth option in the secondary. Of course, roster cutdowns following the preseason represents another opportunity for moves to be made.

Dallas also has the likes of DaRon Bland, C.J. Goodwin, Caelen Carson and trade acquisition Kaiir Elam on the CB depth chart as things stand. The latter did not live up to expectations as a first-round pick during his time with the Bills, and as expected his fifth-year option was declined this spring. 2025 thus represents a critical year for Elam, and his playing time could obviously be impacted by a late-summer acquisition.

Stephon Gilmore is among the veteran cover men still on the market, and he played for the Cowboys in 2023. The 34-year-old is unsure if he will continue his career this season, though. Asante Samuel Jr., Rasul Douglas, Mike Hilton and Kendall Fuller are also unsigned at this point and could be available for short-term deals this summer. The Cowboys currently have over $32MM in cap space, but All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. reports the team plans to set aside roughly $20MM of that figure.

Even taking that into account, Dallas could afford to take a flier on one of the corners still available this summer. As the recovery process continues for Diggs and Revel, it will be interesting to see if the team pursues a CB move prior to Week 1.

Micah Parsons Still Aiming For Cowboys Extension Prior To Training Camp

June 23rd, 2025 at 8:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys’ offseason program came and went without a Micah Parsons extension agreement being reached. The threat of missed time (or at least non-participation) during training camp now exists, but the All-Pro is still targeting a deal being worked out before mid-July.

“I’m pretty hopeful,” Parsons said about the timeline of an extension (via Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports). “I’m still hanging tight. I understand it’s up to [owner Jerry Jones] and he gives the green light on everything. So hopefully something’s done by next month.”

Parsons once targeted March as the time for a deal to be in place. Having his financial outlook sorted out ahead of free agency would have helped inform Dallas’ other moves this spring, but since the framework of an agreement was reached in person between Parsons and Jones there has been little progress in extension talks. In addition to finances, the length of a monster deal appears to be a sticking point between the parties.

The top of the pass rush market stands at $40MM annually, but T.J. Watt in particular represents a candidate to move the bar even higher. As Parsons (who is four years younger than Watt) waits to see how the Steelers fare with their top edge rusher, he could elect to delay signing a Dallas extension in a bid to become the league’s top earner at the position. As things stand, the Penn State product is due to earn $24.01MM on his fifth-year option.

A long-term deal will be worth far more, but it will be interesting to see if Parsons and the Cowboys – known to prefer longer term on their extension agreements – can find common ground on that front before finalizing the financial details of a contract. It took deep into the offseason last year for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott to sign their respective pacts, and Parsons not having his in hand by the start of camp (July 21) would add further uncertainty to the Cowboys’ top storyline.

The two-time All-Pro previously stated he would attend training camp (and thus avoid mandatory fines) without taking part in on-field work. Parsons confirmed he will be in Oxnard, California during his latest remarks on his future, but when asked this time whether or not he would participate he replied, “we’ll see. Time will tell.”

Checking In On 2025 Fifth-Year Option Performers

June 21st, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2021 draft class has produced some of the NFL’s best players. Patrick Surtain claimed Defensive Player of the Year acclaim, after signing a monster extension that reset the cornerback market, and Ja’Marr Chase posted a triple-crown campaign that ended up pushing the wide receiver market past $40MM per year. Penei Sewell remains the NFL’s highest-paid tackle, and the DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle deals helped shape other WR contracts over the past year.

Several players from that first round also did not pan out, with the quarterback crop being the most notable underachievers. Only Trevor Lawrence received an extension among the five 2021 first-round passers, though Justin Fields did do fairly well as a free agent this offseason. The 2021 first-round class did see 15 options exercised (and three players extended; Rashod Bateman has already been extended twice), marking a bump from the 2020 first-round contingent.

Nine players from that first round, however, exited this year’s offseason programs still tied to their rookie deals. Even though the 2020 CBA helped players on this front by making fifth-year options fully guaranteed, it can still be argued the options do first-rounders a disservice due to teams having five years of player control compared to four on deals ranging from Round 2 to Round 7. But the option system — now in its 15th year — is not going anywhere. And more than a fourth of the NFL’s franchises are moving toward training camp with big decisions to make.

Here is a look at where things stand between those teams and the batch of 2021 first-rounders on fifth-year options:

Kyle Pitts, TE (Falcons); option salary: $10.88MM

Flashes of upper-crust tight end play have emerged for Pitts, but Terry Fontenot leaving Chase on the board — months before the Falcons traded Julio Jones — was obviously a mistake. Pitts joined Mike Ditka (and now Brock Bowers) as the only rookie-year tight ends to clear 1,000 yards; the Florida product has not approached that range since. While Pitts has played 17 games in each of the past two seasons, the MCL injury he sustained in 2022 brought a hurdle that became difficult to negotiate. QB play has hurt Pitts, but the Falcons have not seen him justify the No. 4 overall investment. A contract-year uptick certainly could provide a gateway to a big 2026 free agency payday, however.

No Falcons extension rumors have surfaced this offseason, but Pitts has been the subject of trade talk. The Falcons are believed to have listened on Pitts earlier this offseason. A Day 2 pick was believed to be the desired asking price for the 24-year-old pass catcher. Barring a trade, Pitts will be counted on to help Michael Penix Jr.‘s development, alongside fellow Fontenot top-10 skill-position draftees Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Pitts’ age still points to a big-ticket 2026 deal being a reasonable outcome; he can remove notions of a “prove it” contract being necessary with a quality contract year.

Micah Parsons, DE (Cowboys); option salary: $24MM

In NFC East drama, the Cowboys traded the No. 10 overall pick to the Eagles, as Philly’s plan to outflank the Giants on Smith worked. Dallas won the prize here, landing Parsons at 12. Although Surtain has received the top honor among this draft class and Chase has become the highest-paid player, Parsons is also one of the NFL’s best players. He will be paid like it, and the Cowboys are operating on an eerily similar timeline compared to their slow-playing of other recent extensions.

A three-time All-Pro, Parsons is the best player still attached to a fifth-year option. And the EDGE market has changed significantly this offseason. Parsons, 26, confirmed the Cowboys’ latest delay will prove costly. A strange subplot between Jerry Jones and Parsons’ agent (David Mulugheta) also became known during these drawn-out negotiations. The former No. 12 overall pick has expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid defender, and it seems likely he will eclipse Chase’s $40.25MM-per-year deal as well. The Cowboys, whose slow-paced dealings with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb defined their 2024 offseason, have been in talks with Parsons.

Even after a value gap was revealed, a report of common ground surfaced. A franchise that accustomed to — prior to the Lamb and Prescott deals, that is — long-term contracts also looks to have hit a term-length snag here. Trade rumors came out here months ago, but nothing on that front has surfaced in a while.

After Maxx Crosby eclipsed Nick Bosa‘s defender AAV record, Danielle Hunter cleared $35MM (albeit on a one-year bump) as well. Myles Garrett‘s $40MM-per-year accord now sets the market, and T.J. Watt and Aidan Hutchinson should benefit. Parsons having waited boosts his prospects as well, and being nearly four years younger than Garrett will present a clear case for the Penn State alum’s second contract to come in noticeably higher. When will the Cowboys complete their latest arduous contractual journey?

Rashawn Slater, LT (Chargers); option salary: $19MM

The Bolts did well to add Slater at No. 13. Like Parsons, not much doubt appears to exist about Slater’s prospects for a mega-deal. The Northwestern alum, who joined Parsons and Sewell in opting out of the 2020 COVID-19-marred college season, has started every game he has played with the Chargers. After missing 14 games due to injury in 2022, Slater bounced back and earned his second Pro Bowl nod (in 2024).

Last year brought extensions for Sewell, Christian Darrisaw (chosen 10 spots after Slater) and 2020 first-rounder Tristan Wirfs. Slater’s market will check in at a similar place. Extension talks began early this offseason, as the Jim Harbaugh–Joe Hortiz regime has now observed him for a season. Slater skipped OTAs but expects his second contract to come from the Chargers.

The period between minicamp and Week 1 regularly brings extensions, and this will be the most likely window for the Chargers to come to terms with their O-line anchor. Slater signing a second contract soon would allow it to overlap with at least two Joe Alt rookie-deal years, providing a benefit to an L.A. team with a $53MM-per-year Justin Herbert deal on the books.

Alijah Vera-Tucker, G (Jets); option salary: $15.31MM

After bouncing between guard and tackle, Vera-Tucker has settled at his natural position. The USC product, whom the Jets chose 14th overall in 2021, worked exclusively at right guard last year. Although the Jets faceplanted in Aaron Rodgers‘ only full season leading the charge, Vera-Tucker stayed healthy after suffering season-ending injuries in 2022 and ’23. Vera-Tucker started 15 games last year; Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s ninth-best guard.

The Jets are believed to be eyeing the post-draft period to discuss a second contract with Vera-Tucker, though the team — its struggles notwithstanding — has several extension candidates. Even if Breece Hall may not be one of them, the Jets have 2022 first-rounders Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson extension-eligible now.

Vera-Tucker, who turned 26 this week, could take precedence due to being in a contract year. It is also possible a new Jets regime would want to see more given the guard’s injury struggles. Another quality year would make Vera-Tucker one of the top 2026 free agents, but the Jets hold exclusive negotiating rights until March 2026.

Jaelan Phillips, OLB (Dolphins); option salary: $13.25MM

While Vera-Tucker created some distance from his injury issues last season, Phillips sank deeper into that abyss by suffering an ACL tear after a November 2023 Achilles tear sent him off course. Chosen 18th overall in 2021, Phillips already carried injury baggage based on his UCLA past. He rocketed onto the first-round radar following a transfer to Miami, and the ex-Hurricane showed promise during the early years of his rookie contract. Phillips posted 25 QB hits and seven sacks in 2022 and was on pace to clear that career-high sack mark by a comfy margin in ’23, but the Dolphins soon saw injuries derail their edge rusher plan.

Phillips and Bradley Chubb‘s returns from malady-marred stretches represent a central Dolphins storyline. Their returns, which are nearly complete, will be paramount for a regime suddenly in some hot water. The GM who selected Phillips (Chris Grier) 18th overall remains in place, potentially helping the 26-year-old OLB in the event he can shake the injury trouble. But no extension rumors have emerged. This season will be about Phillips reestablishing his old form. If he does, a 2026 franchise tag or a lucrative deal coming in just south of that rate may await.

Kwity Paye, DE (Colts); option salary: $13.39MM

Paye’s value checks in below the Parsons-Slater tier, but he may also not be in “prove it” territory like Phillips. The former No. 21 overall pick has not battled major injury trouble nor has he delivered A-list production. Settling in as an upper-middle-class edge rusher thus far, the Michigan alum has recorded 16.5 sacks since 2023.

Paye, 26, played a big role in the Colts setting an Indianapolis-era record for sacks in a season (51) in 2023 and has certainly not been a bust for Chris Ballard‘s team. A decision will need to be made soon, though, even as the Colts have bigger issues to sort out. The Colts have done well to extend or re-sign their core players, but Ballard backtracked on an inward-focused approach this offseason by paying Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Will those deals affect Paye’s standing?

Indianapolis also has two veteran D-tackle contracts on the books (for DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart), and the team used a first-round pick on D-end Laiatu Latu last year. A Paye payday would complement Latu’s rookie-deal years, and the Colts acting early could create a discount opportunity due to Paye never eclipsing nine sacks or 12 QB hits in a season. Those numbers also could give the team pause about Paye’s long-term viability. Paye was not interested in a 2024 extension, but it would stand to reason he would be prepared to talk terms now. No extension rumors have followed, though.

Travis Etienne, RB (Jaguars); option salary: $6.14MM

An Urban Meyer draftee, Etienne has now been a Lawrence teammate for eight years. The Clemson-developed running back delivered quality work for the 2022 and ’23 Jaguars teams, becoming a high-usage player under Doug Pederson in that span. Meyer had telegraphed a hope the Jags could draft Kadarius Toney in 2021, but Etienne proved the far better pick by posting back-to-back seasons of 1,400-plus yards from scrimmage after missing his rookie year with a foot injury. However, Etienne’s stock mirrored that of the team last year. Tank Bigsby cut into his RB1 role, and career-worst marks followed.

Etienne does not appear an extension candidate in Jacksonville, and trade rumors emerged before the draft. Linked to Ashton Jeanty at No. 5, the Jags pulled off a smokescreen operation centered around Travis Hunter. Even with Jacksonville going with Hunter over Jeanty, the team drafted two running backs (Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen) ahead of Liam Coen‘s first year in charge. Coen did throw cold water on an Etienne trade, but the 26-year-old RB appears set to play out his rookie contract and test free agency in 2026. It will be interesting to see if Coen, who coaxed a promising rookie-year season from Bucky Irving, can move Etienne back on track. But a post-draft report also indicated the new Jags HC is not especially high on the former No. 25 overall pick.

Greg Newsome, CB (Browns); option salary: $13.38MM

As Hunter headed to Jacksonville instead of Cleveland, Newsome saw his status receive an 11th-hour update ahead of the draft. Rather than see Hunter’s two-way role impact him, Newsome enters 2025 in a similar spot. The Browns traded down from No. 2 and took Mason Graham — in a draft that did not see Cleveland draft a cornerback — but Newsome still may not be long for Cleveland.

The Browns dangled the 25-year-old corner in trades before the draft; that followed a pre-deadline trade rumor. In April, it looked like Hunter’s part-time CB role would affect Newsome. But the Browns and Jags had been working on a trade for more than two weeks before the draft. Those trade talks may have been merely a reflection of the organization’s view of Newsome, the 2021 No. 26 overall pick.

Former third-rounder Martin Emerson has operated as Denzel Ward‘s perimeter complementary performer during his career, relegating Newsome to a slot role in sub-packages. Last season, that meant only three starts for Newsome, who described some frustration with his role during the winter. A trade may still be something to monitor ahead of the November deadline, especially if the Browns want to keep stockpiling ammo for a 2026 QB move.

Odafe Oweh, OLB (Ravens); option salary: $13.25MM

Like Paye, Oweh has submitted an extended sample of quality production. Neither had revealed themselves to be difference-making presences going into 2024, but after the Ravens moved on from Jadeveon Clowney, Oweh took a long-awaited step forward. The former No. 31 overall pick broke through for 10 sacks and 23 QB hits. Oweh had never previously surpassed five sacks or 15 hits in a season, with 2024 representing a significant development for a Ravens team that has otherwise relied on veteran stopgaps since Matt Judon‘s 2021 free agency departure.

With David Ojabo not yet panning out, Oweh still has a clear runway in Baltimore. An extension is in play for the ex-Parsons Penn State teammate. Not too much has come out on this front just yet, and the Ravens may also be interested in seeing if Oweh can replicate his 2024 production. Then again, the team has four years of intel on the 26-year-old pass rusher.

Waiting until 2026 to make a play here would run the risk of Oweh’s price rising beyond Baltimore’s comfort zone. No stranger to letting pass-rushing talent walk in free agency and recouping compensatory picks, the Ravens have also not been able to rely on a homegrown pass rusher since Judon. That would stand to make Oweh a reasonable priority in his contract year.

Cowboys-Micah Parsons Negotiations Could Be Held Up By Term Length

June 19th, 2025 at 10:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys are no strangers to lengthy negotiating periods with high-profile players, and this offseason has proven to be no exception. Micah Parsons is still a pending 2026 free agent with this year’s offseason program in the books.

He and owner Jerry Jones spoke months ago and made considerable progress toward a final agreement. Nothing is in place now, though, and the two parties have not spoken for some time. Finances are always a key factor in extension talks, but the length of a deal is crucial as well. On the latter point, the Cowboys have often favored longer agreements and it appears that could be an issue with respect to Parsons.

Term length seems to be a sticking point between the Cowboys and the two-time All-Pro, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes (video link). Longer deals with the likes of Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence have demonstrated the team’s preference when it comes to big-ticket extensions. More recently, pacts for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb (both four years in length) illustrate how that approach may be shifting in the wake of player preferring more frequent opportunities to test the market.

At the age of 26 and with 52.5 sacks to his name, Parsons is an obvious candidate for a major raise over the course of several years. The four-time Pro Bowler intends to reset the EDGE market on his new deal, something which would require surpassing Myles Garrett‘s $40MM per year as things stand. Extensions for the likes of T.J. Watt, Aidan Hutchinson and Trey Hendrickson could move the bar even higher this summer, something which would add to the cost of waiting on the Cowboys’ part.

It is unclear what terms Dallas is prepared to offer in this case, along with the particulars Parsons is seeking. With a training camp hold-in looming, though, progress regarding not only financials but also contract structure will need to be made over the next few weeks.

Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs Aiming For Week 1 Return

June 19th, 2025 at 8:24pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is aiming to return to the field by the start of the regular season, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.

Diggs has struggled with injuries in the past two years. He tore his ACL during a September 2023 practice and missed the rest of the year. The five-year veteran recovered in time for the regular season next fall and started the Cowboys’ first 10 games despite a lingering calf injury. However, Diggs was unable to play through another issue with his knee, which ultimately required surgery in January.

Diggs was present at the team’s mandatory minicamp last week, though he did not participate in any on-field work. He is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp, either. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in April that Diggs could even start the season on the physically unable to perform list, which would sideline him for the team’s first four games. That would give Diggs more time to get ready for the season, especially if he does not have a full ramp-up period during training camp.

However, the 26-year-old has plenty of reason to push for a Week 1 debut. Even if he stays healthy this year, Diggs could find himself a free agent next offseason, per The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf. He led the league with 11 interceptions in 2021 but has struggled to replicate that form since, though he has given up significantly fewer yards in coverage.

Diggs’ contract has no guaranteed money after 2025, per OverTheCap, and he’s due $57MM from 2026 to 2028. With escalating cap hits for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb – not to mention Micah Parsons‘ pending mega-deal – the Cowboys may elect to move on from Diggs to help balance the books.

All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland is also entering the final year of his rookie contract and could command upwards of $20MM per year on an extension. Releasing Diggs with a post-June 1 designation would save $15.5MM against the 2026 salary cap with just $2.94MM in dead money in 2025 and 2026. This future adds a key ingredient to Diggs’ latest rehab odyssey.

Cowboys To Sign CB Robert Rochell, DT Perrion Winfrey

June 18th, 2025 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys are adding two potential depth pieces to their defense this week. Cornerback Robert Rochell and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey are Dallas-bound, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. To clear roster space, Dallas waived cornerback Luq Barcoo and defensive tackle Justin Rogers.

A former Rams and Packers corner, Rochell is a fifth-year veteran who started five games for Los Angeles’ Super Bowl LVI-winning team. A former Browns fourth-round pick, Winfrey saw action in two seasons but has not made much of an impact. The Chiefs released Rochell earlier this month; he worked out for the Cowboys recently, per Wilson.

Rochell is the more notable name here, as he has four years’ worth of experience and made some contributions on a Super Bowl winner. While the Rams did not use the former fourth-round pick in the playoffs in 2021, Rochell logged three postseason appearances with the Packers — the first an upset win over the Cowboys — over the past two seasons.

The five rookie-year starts notwithstanding, Rochell’s best chance to make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster would be as a special-teamer. He has played just 27 defensive snaps since 2022 but was on the field for more than 70% of the Rams’ special snaps in 2022 and over 50% of the Packers’ ST plays in ’23.

This marks Winfrey’s first chance since the Jets placed him on IR in December 2023. No reserve/futures deal commenced following that move, and Winfrey was out of the NFL in 2024. The Browns chose Winfrey 108th overall in 2022, after he earned Senior Bowl MVP honors, but quickly saw him run into trouble. He was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge in Texas involving his girlfriend at the time (the case was dismissed in 2023). Cleveland did not see much from the Oklahoma alum on the field, using him as a backup as a rookie before waiving him in July 2023.

Dallas will enter training camp with health issues at corner, having drafted Shavon Revel after an ACL tear and having seen All-Pro Trevon Diggs run into more knee trouble. Revel will not be ready for the start of camp, while Diggs is a candidate to start the season on the reserve/PUP list. This leaves uncertainty around DaRon Bland — who missed much of the 2024 season due to injury — at the position. The team added former first-rounder Kaiir Elam in a trade and rosters backup-level options in Kemon Hall and Troy Pride. At D-tackle, Dallas signed Solomon Thomas and drafted seventh-rounders (Tommy Akingbesote, Jay Toia) as potential options behind Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith.

Micah Parsons Expects Cowboys Extension Price To Rise, Not Planning Holdout

June 13th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Considerable time has taken place since Micah Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones agreed in principle on an extension. The edge rush market could very well see further movement before an agreement is finalized in this case, something which would increase the cost of a monster second contract.

In April, it was reported Dallas was prepared to make Parsons the league’s highest earner for non-quarterbacks. During his most recent comments on the matter – an interview with DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. – the two-time All-Pro confirmed his target is to become the highest-paid player outside the QB spot. In terms of AAV, that title currently belongs to Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25MM per year).

Myles Garrett leads the way in terms of pass rushers. His new Browns pact averages $40MM annually, a bar which could be cleared in the event T.J. Watt secures another Steelers extension. The latter has an offer on the table, the particulars of which are not publicly known. Interestingly, Parsons said in his interview he is aware of Watt’s asking price and noted it is higher than the deal he and Jones previously agreed to.

In the event Watt – who skipped minicamp this week and does not appear to be signing a deal in the immediate future – does ink a third Pittsburgh pact before Parsons, that will have a notable effect. The Cowboys finalizing a contract with the four time Pro Bowler would come at a higher cost if Watt does manage to surpass Garrett’s benchmark. To little surprise, Parsons expressed his surprise during the interview at the fact his extension has still not been finalized given the legwork which was done months ago.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year has notched at least 12 sacks every year to date despite the fact he missed four games last season. Parsons will be counted on to remain highly productive in 2025, during which he is slated to receive $24.01MM on his fifth-year option. A long-term pact will cost much more, especially given the EDGE market’s upward movement since he first became eligible for an extension last offseason. The Penn State product has already made it clear his deal will be impacted by others signed this offseason.

Parsons originally stated his desire for an extension to be in place before free agency began in mid-March. With that time having come and gone, training camp represents the next target. During the interview, he said would be willing to attend camp even without a deal in hand and thus avoid daily fines. Parsons added, however, that he would not participate in camp in such a scenario (after he did take part in on-field work during minicamp).

The prospect of a hold-in will become a moot point if team and player can finalize an agreement over the coming weeks. Whether or not that takes place will continue to depend in part on other moves amongst some of the league’s top remaining extension-eligible players, though.

Micah Parsons Confirms Informal Extension Agreement With Jerry Jones; Cowboys DE Participating In Minicamp

June 11th, 2025 at 3:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Micah Parsons extension situation remains one to watch regarding the Cowboys and their top defensive player. No deal is officially in place yet, but team and player have held extensive talks this offseason (albeit not recently).

That communication includes discussions which were reported in April by DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. At that point, it was reported the framework of an agreement was in place between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones with the final details left to be ironed out. While that report has been called into question, Jones has since confirmed that the parties spoke early in the spring and further corroboration has emerged regarding that initial arrangement.

Parsons confirmed to Hill today that while no firm agreement has been reached, he and Jones had a productive face-to-face encounter. The two-time All-Pro gave the longtime Dallas owner a price point for an extension, and Jones responded that it was “doable.” It is unclear what Parsons’ proposal was valued at, but Hill’s original report stated an offer was made which would make the 26-year-old the league’s top earner for edge rushers.

Crucially, communication with Parsons’ representation has proven to be sparse over the course of the offseason. Hill notes Jones has still yet to speak with agent David Mulugheta to finalize the extension which was agreed to (at least in principle) months ago. Jones drew criticism with his remarks in April that he was not concerned about Parsons’ agent and did not know his name.

In the time since early April, COO Stephen Jones has noted a gap remaining between team and player in negotiations (something which is certainly eyebrow-raising given the financial arrangement already agreed to during the summit between Parsons and Jerry Jones). Garrett currently leads the EDGE market at $40MM annually, and T.J. Watt (Steelers) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are among the veterans who could land a deal at least near that mark later this offseason.

Parsons is joined by former Lions No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson as a prominent pass rusher eligible for a second – rather than third – contract. His age (26) could lead to a more lucrative deal than Garrett’s, something which would of course have notable cap implications given last year’s Cowboys commitments to quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. Parsons was absent from voluntary practices this spring, but in an encouraging sign from a contract standpoint he did not join the likes of Watt and Hendrickson by skipping mandatory minicamp.

At times, players angling for an extension have adopted a hold-in stance by attending mandatory practices without taking the field. Parsons is participating in drills, however, as noted by The Athletic’s Jon Machota. It will be interesting to see that decision is followed by a new round of talks with the front office or if the wait will continue for a deal to be finalized.

NFL Contract Notes: Fatukasi, Jackson, Diggs

June 7th, 2025 at 3:32pm CST by Ely Allen

A month ago, we saw the Texans re-sign defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi to keep him in Houston for the second straight season. After watching the Jaguars terminate his three-year, $30MM deal a year early, Houston added him to the roster last year for only $5.13MM on a one-year contract.

In his second year with the team, Fatukasi has taken a discount to remain a Texan. In 2025, he’ll play on a reduced one-year, $3MM contract, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Wilson adds that the deal includes $1.5MM in guarantees comprised of a $1MM signing bonus and $500K of his base salary (worth $1.5MM in 2025). Fatukaski will represent a $2.82MM hit to Houston’s salary cap. He’ll also have the opportunity to earn an additional $500K over the course of the deal with $29,411 per game active roster bonuses.

Here are a few other interesting contract notes from around the AFC:

For the second straight offseason, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been absent from team activities in Baltimore. Mike Florio of NBC Sports notes that the absence will reduce Jackson’s 2025 compensation $750K from $43.5MM to $42.75MM. The reduction is a result of Jackson not fulfilling a clause to participate in 27 of 32 team workouts. Obviously, over the course of a five-year, $260MM deal, one would hardly notice a $1.5MM drop over two years, but he may not be without it for long. As rumors begin to form focusing on a new extension to keep Jackson in line with the constantly inflating market, the $1.5MM bonuses would be an easy throw-in somewhere within the likely $60+MM per year deal.
Jackson isn’t alone losing out on money this offseason. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs and Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs each decided to surrender their bonuses in order to work out together in Miami this summer, per Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. Dallas will avoid paying Diggs $500K due to the absence. Volin posits that New England likely didn’t expect to see Diggs in workouts this summer, noting that, if they had wanted to see him there, they could have offered him more than the $200K he’s now missing out on. Following a bit of controversy in Miami, he’s now present in New England and should be at mandatory minicamp this week.

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