Micah Parsons

Packers Interested In Micah Parsons Trade; Cowboys DE Files Grievance Over Fifth-Year Option Salary

August 27th, 2025 at 11:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

The hold-ins keeping Terry McLaurin and Trey Hendrickson off the field have come to an end this week. No resolution on the Micah Parsons front appears imminent, however.

Parsons’ trade request still stands, and the thought of a departure from the Cowboys will remain a talking point until and unless an extension agreement can be reached. By and large, teams do not view a Parsons trade as being viable and Dallas does not intend to pull off a deal. At least one potential suitor is worth watching in this case, though.

Whispers about the Packers looking into a Parsons trade have picked up recently, and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports the team is indeed “interested.” Of course, that would no doubt apply to any number of potential landing spots for the All-Pro edge rusher, and Florio cautions Green Bay’s interest is “nowhere near the smoke that’s out there.”

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was asked about the late-summer trade market. Without mentioning Parsons by name, he left the door open to a notable move taking place. If Green Bay were to swing a deal, pass rush could represent a logical target.

“You’re never one player away, but good players make impacts,’ Gutekunst said (via Ryan Wood of USA Today). “Any time there’s a player of that caliber you can acquire, you’re trying to.”

Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have escalated tensions over a lack of communication involving agent David Mulugheta regarding extension talks. Any new deal which is reached will no doubt make him the highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL, something Jones has stated he communicated a willingness over to Parsons when the two spoke this spring. In the absence of a long-term pact, though, a campaign spent on the fifth-year option is in store.

Parsons is slated to collect $24.01MM this season as a result, although Florio reports a grievance was filed earlier this offseason regarding the value of the one-year tender. Edge rushers often encounter situations such as this based on the variance in value between outside linebackers and defensive ends. Parsons is currently viewed by the Cowboys as a DE, something which would drop his option value to $21.32MM. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year and his camp, by contrast, are attempting to have him classified as an OLB.

A number Parsons’ Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods have come with him listed as a linebacker, but the key determinant in this situation is his most common position played in 2023 (his third NFL season). Circumstances such as this often result in a compromise being agreed to between team and player regarding the option value, but the Parsons-Jones relationship is – at least publicly – rather strained at the moment. That could complicate efforts to resolve this matter, which is of course small in comparison to extension talks.

A back issue has been present in Parsons’ case for much of the summer while he has remained a non-participant in training camp. The 26-year-old recently underwent an MRI which came back clean, but this layer to the ongoing saga may not be over. NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports Parsons is now seeking a second opinion on his back. It will be interesting to see what becomes of that endeavor.

Eight days remain until the Cowboys kick off the regular season; it remains unclear whether or not Parsons will suit up for that contest. Meanwhile, with a trade potentially seen as feasible, the Packers’ moves over the coming days will be worth watching closely.

Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer To Meet With Micah Parsons

August 24th, 2025 at 10:31am CST by Adam La Rose

The ongoing Cowboys-Micah Parsons contract saga saw another interesting twist during Dallas’ final preseason contest on Friday. In the third quarter of that game, Parsons – whose star status would have kept him on the sidelines even if he had an extension in place – lay on the medical table behind the team bench while the offense was on the field (as relayed by ESPN’s Todd Archer). He was also the only player not wearing a team jersey.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he would speak with Parsons about the matter on Sunday. This latest development comes amidst ongoing uncertainty regarding the All-Pro’s future. Serious extension talks have not taken place since the spring (if the conversation between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones can be classified as such) and with Week 1 approaching, no agreement appears to be imminent.

“Without talking to Micah, I need to figure out what he was doing and why he was doing it,” Schottenheimer said (via Archer). “So, until I talk to him, I’m obviously not going to talk about it.”

Jones’ latest round of public appearances have seen him state his offer to Parsons would have made him the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. That could still turn out to be the case, although the cost of doing so would now include an annual average salary surpassing T.J. Watt‘s $41MM figure. Involving agent David Mulugheta in the negotiating process has proven to be a major sticking point; Jones and Mulugheta have not spoken since Parsons went public with a trade request.

Inquiries from interested teams have been made, although the widespread expectation around the league remains no Parsons swap will take place. The 26-year-old is a pending 2026 free agent, but the prospect of one or two franchise tags looms as a means of Dallas keeping him in the fold well beyond the coming campaign. Given the timeline along which high-profile Cowboys contract talks traditionally take place, there is of course still a strong chance a last-minute deal will be struck on the extension front.

Parsons has not participated in training camp while seeking an extension but also while dealing with back tightness. Injuries (legitimate or otherwise) are commonplace when it comes to players in his situation, and Schottenheimer noted Parsons underwent an MRI on Friday. He added the scan came back “pretty clean,” so missed time through injury should not be expected in the regular season. It is still uncertain, however, if the Cowboys’ defense will be at full strength or if a September holdout could be in store in the event Parsons does not sign a new contract in the coming days.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Teams Inquiring On Micah Parsons; Cowboys Remain Against Trading DE

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following Jerry Jones‘ latest comments on the Micah Parsons situation, the All-Pro pass rusher took the increasingly common step of scrubbing his X profile of Cowboys material. The Cowboys have been known to prolong negotiations, regardless of price hikes, and they are well down this road once again with another standout.

Multiple teams have inquired about Parsons’ availability, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said during a SportsCenter appearance. Nothing is moving on that front, as Dallas continues to hold tight during its latest contract saga.

That aligns with what we heard last week, with GMs indicating they have not gotten the sense Parsons is available following his trade request. Noting it would take a Herschel Walker-like offer for the Cowboys to move Parsons, Fowler points to team optimism a deal can still be finalized before the season. It should also be noted Parsons’ camp is less optimistic.

Jones attempting to go around high-powered agent David Mulugheta in negotiations has understandably irked Parsons, who employs an agent to negotiate his contract. The longtime Cowboys owner referencing a $200MM guarantee also reflects what is likely a five- or six-year Dallas extension offer. With the cap soaring annually, players are increasingly opting against long-term deals. The Cowboys prefer them, but it is notable Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb convinced the team to budge here by each scoring four-year extensions. It would surprise if Parsons signed for beyond four years, but Jones continues to reference his negotiations with the player — talks Parsons classified as informal — this offseason.

A Cowboys source mentioned the 49ers’ Nick Bosa situation re: Parsons. San Francisco did not have Bosa signed until four days before the 2023 regular season. Bosa played in Week 1 despite holding out until his extension was done. Parsons has spoken out about how not practicing during a negotiation can negatively impact a season, and he long preferred to have his deal done by training camp. The Cowboys are well past that artificial deadline, as these talks now remind of the Prescott and Lamb pace. Neither of those performers requested a trade, which is a notable difference between this Parsons back-and-forth and previous Cowboys extension struggles.

While Fowler adds Mulugheta certainly didn’t tell Jones to stick the team’s offer “up their (expletive),” the Cowboys going to these lengths to avoid dealing with one of the game’s top agents has been an interesting chapter. As our Nikhil Mehta mentioned Thursday, Jones taking this route is not out of character. But Parsons taking issue with it to the degree he has would seem to require the team to change course and huddle up with Mulugheta — if the intent is to finalize a deal before Week 1. The Cowboys’ Thursday-night assignment in Philadelphia to open the season also gives them less time than they had with Prescott last year.

Mentioning the Packers, Cardinals and Ravens as potential trade fits, Fowler outlines what would certainly be a robust market if the Cowboys did decide to explore what they top player would fetch in a trade. Of course, dealing Parsons would significantly weaken the 2025 Cowboys.

Jones mentioned during his Michael Irvin podcast conversation the prospect of franchise-tagging Parsons next year. That would be an option, but the Cowboys are not giving up on a 2025 deal yet.

Jerry Jones Accuses Micah Parsons’ Agent Of Obstructing Negotiations

August 21st, 2025 at 11:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reaffirmed a hard stance in the team’s extension negotiations with Micah Parsons on Thursday, insisting that the two sides had already agreed to a deal and blaming the lack of progress on Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta.

“When we wanted to send the details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our [expletive],” said Jones in an interview with Michael Irvin. Mulugheta has since denied that claim, per Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS.

“We had our agreement on term, amount, guarantees, everything,” continued Jones, referencing a conversation he had with Parsons earlier this offseason. “We’ve got this deal resolved, in my mind, for the Dallas Cowboys.” Jones also said that his agreement with Parsons “would have made him the highest guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL.”

“The world would know that I want Micah if they knew what I offered him,” added Jones. That offer, according to Hill, was worth more than $40MM per year with almost $200MM in guaranteed money.

However, Parsons has since demanded that the Cowboys reach out to Mulugheta to finalize the contract. Jones, believing he already had a deal, hasn’t been willing to do that, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Parsons said upon requesting a trade he viewed his conversation with Jones as informal and that Mulugheta needed to be brought into the loop to conduct true negotiations.

A $200MM guarantee of any sort would also suggest the Cowboys offered an extension beyond four years or potentially beyond five; we heard earlier this offseason term length could pose an issue in this negotiation. No EDGE is tied to a guarantee beyond $124MM, and the top DEs and rush OLBs are on three- or four-year deals. While the Cowboys traditionally prefer longer-term structures, players — for the most part — are not signing committing to teams beyond four years anymore.

Jones has a well-documented history of trying to negotiate directly with players rather than through their agents and referenced such agreements with Irvin in their interview. He also revealed that he once shut down negotiations with a prospective coach because he wanted to involve an “advisor.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me…talking directly to a player,” Jones said. But there might be.

In 2023, the NFL sent a memo to every team regarding a non-NFLPA certified agent trying to negotiate on the behalf of Lamar Jackson, per Around The NFL’s Nick Shook. That memo included a reminder that, under Article 48 of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, “an Offer Sheet, which may result in an NFL Player Contract, may only be negotiated with the player, if he is acting on his own behalf, or with the player’s NFLPA certified agent.” The memo also warned that “Violation of this rule may result in disapproval of any Offer Sheet or resulting Player Contract entered into by Mr. Jackson and the new Club.”

Jones has publicly admitted that he was trying to negotiate a contract with detailed terms with Parsons directly and has since refused to involve Parsons’ NFLPA-certified agent. That would seem to run afoul of Article 48 as outlined by the league’s 2023 memo and potentially nullify a contract resulting from direct negotiations.

At the end of the interview, Jones leaned on Irvin to reach out Parsons personally to set up a meeting with Jones and “bridge this gap.”

“His agent should be involved in terms of papering it and all that kind of stuff,” said Jones, but he maintained his position that agents shouldn’t be involved in negotiations beyond formalities and paperwork.

Jones also referenced the potential to place the franchise tag on Parsons in 2026 and 2027 on multiple occasions.

“We can have him three years without having this agreement,” said Jones, comparing the situation to the Cowboys’ use of the franchise tag on Dak Prescott in 2020 and 2021.

“It’s exactly what happened with Dak,” explained Jones. “The precedent is handling it like Dak.” However, as noted by Hill, Prescott did not entertain direct talks with the Cowboys and forced them to negotiate with his agent. That eventually resulted in a four-year, $160MM agreement reached shortly after the tag was applied in 2021. By waiting as long as they did to extend Prescott, the Cowboys gave him what became overwhelming leverage. That chain of events led to the extraordinarily player-friendly extension agreed to in September 2024.

Parsons is set to make $24MM on his fifth-year option this season. He was designated as a defensive end for his fifth-year option, which would likely continue for the franchise tag, resulting in a projected cost of $26.54MM in 2026 and $31.84MM in 2027, per OverTheCap. Obviously, $58.38MM over two years is significantly less than what Parsons stands to earn from an extension with the Cowboys.

Jones also seemed to issue a warning to his star player against holding out into the regular season: “In this particular case, then Micah comes in and plays this year under his contract. If he doesn’t, it’s very costly. Very costly for everybody.”

For now, the lack of communication between Parson and the Cowboys is a fundamental obstacle to any progress in negotiations, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Parsons issues his trade request nearly three weeks ago. A lack of communication by this point — for a franchise that prolonged Prescott and CeeDee Lamb negotiations last year — does not reflect well on the Cowboys’ negotiating strategies.

“You can’t get a deal done if you’re not even talking,” said Schefter on his podcast. “The two sides haven’t had any negotiations since late March or early April. And it sounds like at this point it’s personal. It sounds like each side is dug in.”

“Both sides seem to be angry,” added Schefter, who noted that other teams have resolved similar situations but said that may not be the result in this case.

“I see these two sides headed towards a divorce in time,” continued Schefter. “It certainly doesn’t feel like these two sides want to enter a long-term relationship together.” Jones, meanwhile, clearly believes that he has a longer runway to keep Parsons in Dallas.

“We’ve really got three years to work this thing out,” Jones told Irvin.

Indeed, according to The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, the relationship between the two sides “has not deteriorated to the point of an imminent divorce from the team’s perspective” and “the club remains unrattled at this time.” But Jones’ comments Thursday have not helped matters. Parsons took the step of removing Cowboys material from his X page. That is fairly standard practice during contentious negotiations, but it does not appear the sides are anywhere close to a resolution at this point. That would put Parsons to a decision, as a holdout would be the next step here.

GMs Do Not Believe Cowboys Have Made Micah Parsons Available

August 15th, 2025 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

When Micah Parsons rolled out his trade request two weeks ago, it quickly became known the Cowboys had no intention of granting it. Considering Parsons’ status as Dallas’ top player and one of the league’s best overall talents, no deal ever seemed realistic.

We have seen similar standoffs lead to blockbuster trades in the recent past. Khalil Mack‘s Raiders negotiations devolved into a blockbuster trade with the Bears. Jamal Adams‘ 2020 Jets talks ended up leading him to Seattle. Both trades required packages headlined by two first-round picks.

Both those instances involved a team trading a player a previous regime drafted, as Reggie McKenzie and Mike Maccagnan respectively drafted those defenders in the top 10 — before Jon Gruden– and Joe Douglas-orchestrated trades occurred. The Cowboys’ Jerry Jones–Stephen Jones–Will McClay operation, of course, drafted Parsons in 2021. Although the sides are not believed to be actively negotiating an extension right now, Parsons continues to show up for practice as an observer. The Cowboys will almost definitely not take the opportunity to cash out on one of the NFL’s top assets now.

GMs have not gotten the sense Parsons is available, according to Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson, who adds one anonymous front office boss informed him of a sense Parsons being available would have come with a trade price no team could realistically meet. Considering Parsons’ status as a three-time All-Pro and having posted four straight double-digit sack seasons to open his career — only Parsons and Reggie White have done that — the Cowboys would have been poised to ask for a historic trade package for an early-prime player.

The 2016 Defensive Player of the Year who was traded ahead of his fifth-year option season, Mack is the closest comp here. Mack’s Oakland tenure was not quite as consistent as Parsons’ first four Dallas seasons, despite ascending to a DPOY perch Parsons has yet to, and the superstar was going into an age-27 season at the time he was dealt to Chicago. Mack fetched two firsts, a third and a sixth (in a deal that sent the Raiders a second and a conditional fifth).

Were Parsons to be traded, he would be highly unlikely — given how cap growth has changed in the years since — to accept a six-year extension like Mack did. The defensive end’s preference for a shorter-term deal has brought a potential sticking point, as the Cowboys regularly prefer longer-term pacts. But the prospect of a team needing to give Parsons a deal perhaps near $45MM per year would naturally affect a trade price.

Trade rumors and speculation came up well before Parsons’ request surfaced, but it was never viewed as a likely outcome — even after the Cowboys gave Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb top-market deals. Parsons has not shifted to a holdout, which is interesting given that this process has differed from past Cowboys extension sagas due to a trade request emerging. The Cowboys could also waive Parsons’ daily fines in a holdout since he is attached to a rookie contract.

If this impasse persists, Parsons would effectively need to play the holdout card if it came down to remaining unhappy with the situation by Week 1. The Cowboys are banking on the impact pass rusher not being ready to miss out on $1.5MM game checks. The team did not complete its Lamb deal until August 26, 2024 and famously did not have Prescott’s done until hours before Week 1. Time remains during the latest overly long Dallas negotiation.

Jerry Jones, Micah Parsons Have Not Spoken Since DE’s Trade Request

August 6th, 2025 at 10:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jerry Jones has made an odd point of communicating directly with Micah Parsons during the superstar pass rusher’s contract negotiations, rather than taking the standard step of going through an agent. The Cowboys’ approach this offseason has irked Parsons to the point he became the rare Dallas player to request a trade.

Parsons outlined a number of issues with Jones’ tactics as he made the request, but he remains at Cowboys camp as a de facto hold-in. Despite Parsons’ presence, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer notes he and Jones have not spoken since the trade request. Jones and Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, have also not spoken since the trade ask emerged last week.

Although Jones described his stance as “urgent” regarding this Parsons matter, his actions do not align with that. The 37th-year owner said this past weekend Cowboys fans should not lose sleep over this standoff. The Cowboys do not intend to trade Parsons, but they appear no closer to extending him.

As it stands, the longtime owner/GM is not guaranteeing Parsons suits up for the Cowboys in Week 1. That still seems the most likely outcome, but this situation has veered off course compared to where the Cowboys were with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year. Even the 2019 Ezekiel Elliott holdout, resolved days before that season, did not lead to a trade request.

“No, absolutely not,” Jones said of guaranteeing Parsons will debut with the Cowboys in Philadelphia. “A big part of that is his decision. How would I know that?”

Jones and Parsons conducted extension talks this offseason. The parties disagreed over whether those were considered formal discussions, with Parsons preferring the Cowboys go through his agent. Unless a player is representing himself, agents negotiate contracts. Thus far, however, the Cowboys have only communicated with Mulugheta through exec Adam Prasifka. Days before Parsons’ trade request, negotiations were said to be going backward. Mulugheta reaching out to COO Stephen Jones did not lead to negotiations, according to Parsons, who added in his request the Cowboys have not contacted his camp for negotiations since Mulugheta’s overture went nowhere with ownership.

The Cowboys’ negotiating trends have baffled many, as Parsons’ price has undoubtedly risen since 2024 and throughout this offseason — as dominoes fell on the EDGE market. Parsons said the Cowboys told him last year they wanted to do a deal in 2025. Timeline-wise, this situation resembles Lamb’s due to the All-Pro wide receiver being unsigned to open training camp ahead of a fifth-year option season. Lamb’s deal did not come to pass until August 26, 2024. Lamb also held out and was not keen on a 2023 extension. That separates the WR’s saga from Parsons’, as the All-Pro defensive end said he was ready to talk terms before his fourth season.

With the Cowboys understandably prioritizing Lamb and Prescott — who both were entering contract years — over a player signed through the 2025 season, they have seen Parsons’ price rise. Parsons expressed confusion at the Cowboys’ hesitancy at multiple points this offseason. Jones did say, via Archer, he offered Parsons “a hell of a lot more than you think I did.” The owner also referenced a guarantee of “almost $200MM.”

That total would not stand to reflect a full guarantee, and a $200MM guarantee of any sort would point to the Cowboys reverting to their preference of a longer-term deal. Term length was reported to be a sticking point in these talks, as players are preferring shorter-term contracts amid annual cap spikes. No current defensive player is guaranteed more than $123MM (Myles Garrett). T.J. Watt‘s $108MM fully guaranteed — on a three-year deal — leads the pack in that more important category.

Opening their season on a Thursday night in Philly, the Cowboys have a bit less time than they did when they went down to the wire with Prescott last year. Tied to a $24MM fifth-year option salary, Parsons would lose weekly game checks worth approximately $1.41MM if he sat out. Excepting the 1993 Emmitt Smith situation (when the Hall of Fame running back missed two games amid a contract dispute), the Jones-era Cowboys have a track record for finishing these negotiations. How they go about getting there continues to generate confusion.

Jerry Jones Comments On Micah Parsons’ Trade Request

August 2nd, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Cowboys owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones was not short on company following the team’s training camp sessions today. Surrounded by reporters and with jeers raining down from nearby fans in attendance, Jones delivered his comments on the bombshell trade request issued by star defender Micah Parsons yesterday. Jones’ first comment?

“I would say to our fans, don’t lose any sleep over this.”

The quote (courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter) set the tone for a series of nonchalant answers that seemed to paint Parsons’ request less as something to be taken seriously and more as a standard part of negotiations. It was followed by similar unconcerned statements disregarding Parsons’ seriousness such as “we’re in good shape” and “this is a negotiation,” per Jon Machota of The Athletic. When asked about the deal that was supposedly on the table in March, Jones claimed simply that “Micah took it off the table,” according to Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt.

Jones shrugged off the accusations from Parsons of being cornered without his agent present to negotiate. Parsons had told media that he had gone to speak with Jones under the guise that conversations would be concerning leadership before Jones shifted the conversation to negotiations once he was behind closed doors. When asked about Parsons’ view of that confrontation (in a video provided by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram), Jones dismissed it, emphasizing his own viewpoint by directing a defensive “are you asking me?” to the reporter.

Jones has received plenty of criticism in recent years for his strategies in negotiations with big players, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Most notably, last year, he waited to extend quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb until long after several other players at both positions had fully reset the markets. Those who criticize argue that, had he pushed negotiations earlier, the Cowboys could’ve saved millions on each deal by setting the new market rather than reacting to it.

Those who see a method to Jones’ madness believe that the businessman is perfectly willing to pay a bit more for each contract in exchange for the free marketing that comes as a result of dominating the news cycle this time of year. While this could certainly serve as a secondhand benefit to the owner’s pockets, from a football perspective, the inflating contracts with each negotiation still make it difficult to continue building a roster around these big deals.

Todd Archer of ESPN points out that, of all those negotiations of the past called into question — those of Prescott (twice), Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin, and even way back with Emmitt Smith — none have gotten to the point of a trade request. Most have gotten the deals they were looking for, even if at the last second; Smith’s deal came after missing all of training camp and sitting out the first two games of the 1993 regular season, both of which resulted in losses. Ultimately, as Archer points out, “Jones has never lost a star player he wanted to keep.”

Archer also notes, though, that Parsons has “pushed further than anybody” else with yesterday’s trade request. Perhaps Jones is right, and they are “in good shape.” Perhaps he fully plans on paying Parsons every bit of what is being asked for financially, just after denying other asks of earlier negotiations and a trade request. With that request, Parsons has already entered new territory for Cowboys stars. Now, we’re left to wonder if he’ll be the first of those stars to slip away from Jones.

Micah Parsons Requests Trade From Cowboys

August 1st, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons has requested a trade, according to a lengthy social media post that details his protracted negotiations with the team.

Dallas has no intention of trading Parsons, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, but teams are still expected to reach out to the Cowboys to inquire about his availability.

Despite the trade request, Parsons is not planning to leave training camp, according to WFAA’s Ed Werder, which would subject him to a daily fine of $40K. This certainly has the makings of an awkward situation, but teams have received trade requests from hold-ins in the past.

“I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy. … Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here,” Parsons said. “I no longer want to be held to close door (sic) negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans and my teammates.

“I no longer want negatives created and spread to the media about me. I purposely stayed quiet in hopes of something getting done, but there is confusion out there. Let me clear some things up.”

Parsons’ statement references Jerry Jones mentioning his 2024 injury, a high ankle sprain, in reference to the negotiations. The fifth-year defender said he had his agent (David Mulugheta) reach out to the Cowboys about a 2024 deal, and his statement indicates the team did not want to begin talks last year. Parsons said Mulugheta told him to wait until other deals were completed, thus seeing his price rise, but Parsons wanted to start the process before that happened. The DE’s camp alerted the Cowboys at the Combine about a readiness to launch talks, acknowledging how that route would leave money on the table. The aforementioned Parsons-Jones dialogue that set up parameters of a deal did not, per Parsons, constitute formal negotiations.

Mulugheta then contacting Cowboys negotiator Adam Prasifka led to a team stance, per Parsons, that the deal was already done. Parsons then said Mulugheta reaching out to COO Stephen Jones did not lead to negotiations. After Parsons’ camp put the ball in the Cowboys’ court following that attempt, the player indicates the team has not contacted Mulugheta regarding an effort to resume negotiations. That brings us to today’s trade request.

Last year, Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade and was allowed to shop around while holding in with the 49ers. That process led to the parties regrouping on an extension. The 49ers had developed a reputation for waiting too long on paydays, but the Cowboys are on another tier — based on the developments in 2024 and with Parsons this year — regarding contract timing. Many other instances of trade requests leading to no change have transpired in recent years as well.

This is a long time coming for Parsons, who had expressed confusion as to why the Cowboys were waiting this long — as the edge rusher market continued to be updated with market-setting extensions — to pay him. Parsons is almost definitely the Cowboys’ best player, and even as the team paid Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb ahead of contract years in 2024, a 2025 extension always loomed for the All-Pro edge rusher. But a report earlier this week pointed to progress stopping between the parties, leading to a rumor earlier today Parsons was considering a trade ask.

Parsons had long aimed for a deal to be done by training camp, having observed how extended negotiations can affect a player’s upcoming season. Zack Martin admitted his holdout affected his 2023 season. The Cowboys have not displayed expediency here, despite Parsons becoming extension-eligible in January 2024. The team’s reputation for prolonged negotiating sessions reached a boiling point last year, when Lamb held out into late August before being paid and Prescott’s deal was not done until hours before their season opener in Cleveland.

Parsons follows Terry McLaurin in requesting a trade. Unlike McLaurin, Parsons did not begin training camp as a holdout. But the two are using a similar playbook during slow negotiations. Each is not practicing due to injury, though as the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins pointed out this week, Parsons is not receiving on-field treatment for his reported back issue. This amounts to a de facto hold-in, which is understandable given Parsons’ frustration with the team.

Lamb did not request a trade, and Prescott practiced while his deal was being negotiated. Those proceedings unfolding as they did and then the Cowboys taking this path with Parsons has led to torrents of criticism, especially with the EDGE market exploding this offseason. Maxx Crosby topped Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV to set a new standard in March, and Myles Garrett topped it with a whopping $40MM-per-year deal. Danielle Hunter then eclipsed Crosby’s number, albeit on a one-year add-on, and T.J. Watt set a new standard — at $41MM AAV.

That market explosion sets up Parsons with a clear chance to enter the season as the NFL’s highest-paid edge rusher, seeing as he is 26 — nearly four years younger than Garrett and five years younger than Watt. The Cowboys could see the price rise higher if the Lions pay Aidan Hutchinson before the season, but Jerry Jones has let it be known that is not exactly a chief concern.

The owner’s deep pockets notwithstanding, the Cowboys will still see an inflated Parsons rate affect their ability to build rosters long term, especially as Prescott is tied to a record-smashing extension (no player is within $5MM AAV of Dallas’ QB) and Lamb being on the league’s third-most lucrative WR deal.

Although multiple trade rumors cropped up between last season and the early offseason, the Cowboys should not be expected to budge here. They have a track record, cost notwithstanding, of completing big-ticket deals. Dallas also showed a willingness to bend on its preferred five- and six-year term-length preference — an outdated model as the cap continues to spike — by giving Prescott and Lamb four-year deals. We heard earlier this offseason term length could be an issue here, and while it is odd neither Jerry or Stephen Jones has negotiated directly with Parsons’ agent, the team almost always finishes these agreements.

Dallas also has not been shy about unholstering the franchise tag. That would be an obvious option with Parsons if the Cowboys cannot move past the finish line before Week 1. They went to that well with Prescott in 2020, after spending much of the 2019 offseason negotiating with Prescott. The sides did not wrap that negotiation until March 2021, as Prescott’s price steadily climbed — to the point the Cowboys executed a wildly player-friendly deal. That preceded Prescott scoring historically player-friendly terms on his $60MM-per-year extension. The Cowboys waiting with Parsons will only increase the price, barring a major injury.

The Cowboys could waive fines if Parsons did shift to a holdout, with the CBA granting them that choice due to the decorated EDGE being on a rookie deal. Even if the Cowboys (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter) have not traded a player coming off a Pro Bowl season since dealing Super Bowl-years safety Thomas Everett in 1994, they would run into considerable trouble if Parsons threatened to miss games. When Parsons has been on the field from 2021-24, Dallas has ranked as the NFL’s best defense (per EPA); they have, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, ranked as the second-worst during this span when Parsons is off the field.

Parsons has not technically made the threat to hold out, though his trade request does move him down that road. A true holdout would mean sacrificing $1.41MM each week. This situation has gotten ugly, a scenario that certainly could have been prevented with an earlier extension.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Micah Parsons Considering Trade Request From Cowboys

August 1st, 2025 at 10:24am CST by Adam La Rose

The latest update in the Micah Parsons saga further illustrates the tensions between his camp and the Cowboys. With no active extension talks ongoing, an escalation could soon take place.

Parsons is now “considering drastic measures” as it pertains to his future, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That could include a trade request or a decision to cut ties with the Cowboys altogether. The latter step would be rather difficult since the four-time Pro Bowler is under contract with Dallas for 2025, but a public request to be dealt would of course fall in line with standard practice for a number of players dissatisfied with their situation.

Since a face-to-face summit with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took place in the spring – during which the framework of an agreement was worked out – things have spiraled in this case. The top of the edge rush market has swelled multiple times in 2025, as expected. T.J. Watt now leads the way as a result of his $41MM-per-year Steelers pact, but Parsons has long been expected to surpass that figure based on his age.

The 26-year-old originally targeted the start of free agency as the timeline for a new deal before shifting that to the beginning of training camp. With both artificial deadlines having come and gone, Parsons has grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress at the negotiating table. The price of a second Dallas contract – presuming one eventually gets signed – will no doubt be higher than it would have been had the parties consummated a deal before the Watt agreement. Public comments made recently on both sides have heightened speculation this situation may not result in the long-term pact many have long expected would be the case.

Prior to Russini’s report, Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS confirmed on Friday morning that the narrative of tension between Parsons and the Cowboys has a strong foundation. He added that, in addition to issues of term length and compensation, “feelings” are among the issues yet to be resolved in this saga. An asking price beyond what was already (informally) agreed to this spring would be an understandable cause for consternation on the part of the Cowboys. Likewise, seeing his extension talks drag out in a similar fashion to those of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb last year has unsurprisingly irked Parsons and his representation given their desire to work out a deal as early as 2024.

Having earned a spot on the first or second All-Pro team during each of his four seasons to date, Parsons has a strong case to move the EDGE market to a new financial position. The Penn State product has amassed 52.5 sacks to date and will be counted on to lead the way in the pass rush department for Dallas in 2025 and (theoretically, at least) beyond. No agreement being struck in this case could lead to a free agent departure next spring or, more likely, a decision from the Cowboys to apply the franchise tag.

Agent David Mulugheta has been in contact with Adam Prasifka, who regularly has a strong role in player contract talks. Neither Jerry nor COO Stephen Jones has spoken with Mulugheta to date, however, and it would come as a surprise if any positive movement were to come about until and unless that changes. For now, attention will turn to Parsons and his willingness to take things a step further in the absence of traction on the negotiating front.

Cowboys-Micah Parsons Negotiations Going Backward

July 29th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys’ pattern of delaying big-ticket extensions is on display through the Micah Parsons talks, and the sides are not believed to be progressing. These negotiations also may not be animosity-free.

While Dallas took considerable heat for waiting on the CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions — the latter not coming to pass until hours before the team’s opener — ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter views the Parsons talks as different in terms of hard feelings. Neither side is happy right now, to the point the veteran reporter noted during a Pat McAfee Show appearance these negotiations have slid backward.

No conversations are ongoing, according to Schefter. That was not the case in the spring, when talks were at least unfolding. The Cowboys are not happy talks have gone sideways, while Schefter adds Parsons feels like this deal should be done. Parsons had long hoped for a resolution by training camp.

This report comes after a strange Stephen Jones comment that followed chants of “Pay Micah” at Cowboys camp. The Cowboys executive VP said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the team wants to pay Parsons, but “he’s gotta want to be paid.”

Jones’ offering comes after Parsons fired multiple salvos at ownership’s penchant for delaying bigtime extensions. Parsons said his price would go up the longer these negotiations took, and the market has seen a near-full-on reset between Maxx Crosby‘s March extension and T.J. Watt‘s deal earlier this month. In between, Myles Garrett and Danielle Hunter cashed in. The EDGE ceiling has climbed from Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-AAV deal to Watt’s $41MM number over the past five months. While Trey Hendrickson‘s price may have changed due to the developments this offseason, Parsons has made no secret of the fact his has. Parsons said this month ownership was complicating these negotiations.

The Cowboys, of course, do not have a traditional GM. Jerry Jones has held that title since buying the team in 1989. This has caused headline avalanches, and the veteran owner said he has no plans of stepping down from that role anytime soon. Parsons and the Joneses have sparred about the deal this offseason, and the All-Pro looks to be engaging in a Jonathan Taylor-like de facto hold-in. Parsons is not practicing due to a back injury, but the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins reports he is not receiving on-field treatment like Trevon Diggs. This would appear to be a negotiating tactic, one Taylor used two summers ago as he completed a contentious negotiation.

Jerry Jones said he believed he and Parsons had deal parameters in place; Parsons confirmed that in June. The state of the union has since changed. Last week, Jones also reaffirmed a hesitancy in talking to agents, providing another complication in Dallas’ latest high-profile talks. Cowboys senior director of salary cap/player contracts Adam Prasifka has spoken with Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, per Watkins, who previously indicated no deal is close.

These negotiations have reinforced the Cowboys’ timing issue, as Parsons is undoubtedly shooting for a deal north of where Watt’s talks settled; Parsons is nearly five years younger than the Steelers dynamo. Team Parsons is also shooting for a four-year deal, per Watkins. Dallas caved on its usual longer-term structure to complete the Prescott and Lamb deals, but we heard earlier this offseason term length posed a problem in these talks. The sides still have more than a month until Week 1, but the negotiation is off track currently.

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