Cowboys, Micah Parsons Begin Negotiations; Latest On Osa Odighizuwa’s Asking Price
After taking their time on CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions last year — to the point the ultra-rare game-day deal came to pass before Week 1 (with Prescott) — the Cowboys are at least starting the Micah Parsons process.
As of last week, the sides were not talking. They are now, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins, who describes these as general discussions. They will pertain to a monster extension, as Parsons joins a few edge rushers in the running to alter the position’s financial landscape this offseason.
Parsons has said he hopes an extension will be in place by training camp, later communicating there is a plan in place between he and the team regarding his second contract. This came after Parsons indicated in December he wanted a deal before free agency. That seems almost certain not to happen, as the Cowboys regularly hammer out their top extensions — save for the first Prescott re-up, which featured a franchise tag deadline — late in the summer.
Parsons joins T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson in contract years, with Myles Garrett squarely on the extension radar — with the Browns or another team, depending on how his trade saga ends — despite two seasons remaining on his deal. Parsons has said he expects to the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. Other edge rushers will be in the mix for that title, as will Ja’Marr Chase.
Trade rumblings have come out on Parsons, who would fetch more than Garrett would due to his age (26 in May). Jerry Jones did his best to refute those, but a report last month had the Cowboys at least discussing the matter internally. As the Cowboys have Prescott and Lamb tied to top-market deals, a third landmark payday would restrict their ability to round out a roster. Dallas deciding to trade the youngest of their top trio would be an interesting move, as Parsons is probably the team’s best player. For now, the conversation will center on an extension, rather than a seismic swap.
Beginning his career with three All-Pro nods, Parsons is one of the NFL’s premier players. He will command a deal north of Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year accord. The cap has climbed by $55MM since the Bosa deal came to pass. With Garrett, Watt and Hendrickson also in play for new contracts, this market being topped by a $40MM-AAV pact will not be out of the question come Week 1. The Cowboys are currently low on cap space, holding barely $3MM. They also will face a $26.4MM Zack Martin dead money bill from his retirement, though the future Hall of Fame guard could work with the team — as Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox did the Eagles — to help save money via a post-June 1 transaction.
The Cowboys have a while on Parsons, but they are running out of time with Osa Odighizuwa. The ascending D-tackle has been in talks with the team on a second contract for weeks, and he is poised to be one of this year’s top free agents. As such, Watkins views $20MM per year as a floor for the four-year starter. Odighizuwa and Milton Williams are expected to fetch big contracts on this year’s DT market, but the Cowboys could buy more time by franchise-tagging their free agent-to-be. Of course, that would require maneuvering to create cap space, as it would cost $25.12MM for the team to tag Odighizuwa. The Cowboys have used the tag in six of the past seven years.
Unable to break through to snap their NFC championship game drought — now the NFC’s longest — with Parsons and Odighizuwa on rookie contracts, the Cowboys will now see their roster become more expensive. They have until 3pm CT March 4 to tag Odighizuwa and until 11am March 10 to conduct exclusive negotiations.
Stephen Jones: Cowboys Will Be “Selectively Aggressive” This Offseason
The Cowboys are hoping to steal headlines this offseason, but the team is making it clear that they won’t force any moves. While speaking with reporters at the combine today, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters that his team will be “selectively aggressive” when it comes to transactions.
[RELATED: Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa]
“Obviously, our goals historically have been to try to fill as many of our musts and needs before the draft so you can pick the best player on your board,” Stephen Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “Didn’t get that totally accomplished last year, but certainly that’s always the goal. And every year is different in terms of what those musts and needs are, and then you also have to marry what’s in free agency vs. where the draft is heavy and where we can help ourselves in the draft.”
The Cowboys’ 2024 season ended in disappointment and change, as the team moved on from Mike McCarthy after failing to make the playoffs. Part of the team’s lack of success was due to Dak Prescott‘s season-ending hamstring injury, although the Cowboys were only 3-5 in their quarterback’s eight starts.
There’s clearly work to do if the Cowboys hope to return to the postseason. The team has holes on both sides of the ball, and while they’ll find a few options via the draft, they’ll be reliant on some newcomers to be productive. That could require the front office to pony up, and it seems like they could be willing…to an extent.
Further, similar to last year, the Cowboys will also be focused on extending their star players. After inking Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to new deals, the team’s now motivated to sign pass rusher Micah Parsons to a new pact. We’ve heard the Cowboys have also talked to defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa‘s camp about a new deal, and the team has a long list of additional players who are set to hit free agency.
Therefore, when Jones says his team will be “selectively aggressive,” it could come in many forms. While fans would naturally like to see a big splash via free agency or trade, the team’s notable moves may be more in-house. Still, Jones wasn’t shy about exploring every possible route to improve the Cowboys.
“We’re going to look at everything we can,” Jones said (via Archer). “You have a certain amount of resources they allow you to have. But we’re going to try to improve our football team. Not try. We’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success [this] year.”
Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa; Team Hopes To Retain Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle
Much of the Cowboys’ offseason will center on the Micah Parsons extension situation. The team has other priorities as the new league year approaches, though, and that includes talks with a number of pending free agents.
One of those is Osa Odighizuwa. The former third-rounder is currently set to be one of the top defensive tackles in free agency, but there is still time for the Cowboys to work out a deal preventing him from reaching the market. COO Stephen Jones recently made it clear talks have begun on a second contract for Odighizuwa.
“We have had negotiations with Osa,” Jones revealed during an interview with David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.”
The 26-year-old has started all but four of his 67 career games, collecting 13.5 sacks to date. Improving against the run is a key need for the Cowboys this offseason, and multiple changes in the front seven could be in store as a result. With the chance of a departure to Washington (and thus a reunion with Dan Quinn) looming, it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached before the start of the new league year in March.
As for other roster priorities, Jones noted the Cowboys also hope to retain slot corner Jourdan Lewis and lead running back Rico Dowdle. Lewis has spent his entire eight-year career in Dallas, playing out his rookie contract, a three-year deal worth an average of $4.5MM per year and the less lucrative one-year accord signed last March to keep him in place. Approaching his age-30 season, Dallas could make another short-term commitment while DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs remain perimeter starters.
The Cowboys opted for a committee approach early in the 2024 season in particular, and it did not go according to plan. The shift in approach later in the year allowed Dowdle to surpass 1,000 rushing yards while handling by far the heaviest workload of his career, though, something which could help his market value. Dallas ranked 27th on the ground last year, and improving in that department could involve selecting a running back in April’s draft, one which is viewed as being deep at the position. Re-signing Dowdle would nevertheless allow for backfield continuity and at least provide the team with an experienced backup.
Jones added the Cowboys are awaiting a decision from defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on his future. The 33-year-old was limited to just four games last year and is a pending free agent. Lawrence received the franchise tag twice, and his career earnings also include the five- and three-year Cowboys pacts he has played on. After seeing that fellow 2014 draftee Zack Martin intends to retire, Lawrence could do the same; taking that path would leave Dallas in need of at least a depth addition along the edge.
As for Parsons, Jones declined to give a firm timeline on when negotiations for his pending mega-extension will begin. He did say, though, that talks will pick up over the coming weeks as the team navigates the lead-in to free agency while preparing for the draft. Parsons has a case to become the league’s highest-paid defensive player, but before a deal reaching (or approaching) that mark is worked out the Cowboys will look to attain clarity on how their 2025 roster shapes up at several positions.
Extension Talks Between Cowboys, Micah Parsons Have Not Started
Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons has been extremely vocal about wanting to remain in Dallas under an extended contract, especially over the last three months. In what has become typical Cowboys fashion, though, talks between the two parties have not started, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. 
To be clear, this seems to directly conflict with a report from just over a week ago from the team’s website, following a meeting between Parsons and team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones. After the meeting, Parsons stated that the talks went well and that “there’s definitely a plan in place.” The more recent report from Watkins seems to indicate that Jones and company didn’t take Parsons’ plan as seriously as Parsons did.
Typically, as Watkins points out, team officials will wait for the NFL Scouting Combine to start contract talks with players’ agents. While Parsons and Jones met in the building where Parsons laid out his expectations for what the team’s website called “an exceptionally complex and lucrative contract,” it appears the source with knowledge of the situation communicating with Watkins is indicating that those preliminary talks were just window dressing until the real talks with Parsons’ agents can begin.
This continues a worrying trend wherein Jones and the Cowboys seem to be operating with no sense of urgency. Waiting to secure extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last year cost the Cowboys millions as other players around the league set new markets at the same positions with their own extensions. Jones’ baffling decision to let former head coach Mike McCarthy‘s contract expire instead of firing him earlier not only gave every other team with an opening a head start on interviewing and hiring replacement head coaches, but he also allowed the assistant coaches’ contracts to expire. When he eventually promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the top position, the new head coach was unable to retain many of his assistants from 2024 as they had already started to explore other opportunities following the expiration of their deals.
In addition, not only have the Cowboys seemingly not been working night and day to retain their best defensive player (perhaps their best player overall) on a long-term deal, but there have also been internal discussions about trading the star pass rusher. With how unabashed Parsons has been about wanting to stay in Dallas, it’s truly stunning to see the Cowboys continue to slow play the situation and explore other options.
Micah Parsons: ‘Plan In Place’ Regarding Cowboys Extension
Speculation about how Micah Parsons‘ contract situation will play out will no doubt continue until a deal is officially in place. The Cowboys’ All-Pro edge rusher recently provided an update on that front indicating traction could soon be gained.
Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently met to discuss an extension which will tie him to the franchise for the foreseeable future. A deal moving the 25-year-old near the top of the edge rush market (if not to the top of the pecking order) can be expected, although he has publicly noted becoming the NFL’s highest-paid pass rusher may not be necessary to get a deal done. Parsons spoke positively about the nature of his latest conversations with Jones.
“It was good,” the four-time Pro Bowler said (via the team’s website). “I really have a lot of respect for Jerry. We have great conversations all the time. There’s definitely a plan in place, but we’ll just see how everything plays out. There’s been no progress yet, but I’m pretty confident that something will happen, so we’ll see.”
A lack of inroads being made with respect to term and finances on a long-term pact is certainly a noteworthy remark on Parsons’ part. The Penn State product made it clear in December his preference would be to have a deal in place before the start of free agency, although more recently he moved that timeline to the onset of training camp. In any case, a lengthy wait would come as little surprise given how the Cowboys have operated in recent years.
Dallas’ 2024 offseason was defined in large part by the extensions worked out with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The latter engaged in a training camp holdout until his pact was in place, while the news of the former’s record-breaking accord broke hours before the start of the regular season. If Jones and the Cowboys opt for a similar approach with Parsons, it may very well take until the summer for an agreement to be reached.
Set to play on the fifth-year option in 2025, Parsons is due just over $24MM this season. A multi-year pact will check in at a much high price, though, and fitting in a massive raise while balancing the Prescott and Lamb accords will be difficult from a cap perspective. The Cowboys have attempted to shoot down trade speculation, but a report from Super Bowl Sunday indicated Parsons was not pleased with the decision to move on from former head coach Mike McCarthy and added the team has held discussions about the possibility of a trade.
In the absence of anything on that front materializing, attention will continue to be focused on extension talks. Parsons’ latest comments prove no firm timeline exists, but if the plan the parties understand to be in place is followed, he will have a new pact in hand sometime this offseason.
Cowboys Have Had Internal Discussions About Micah Parsons Trade
Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is entering the fifth-year option season of his rookie deal, has said he is hoping to hammer out an extension with Dallas at some point prior to training camp, but that was before the club elected not to retain head coach Mike McCarthy. As Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com write, Parsons called that decision “devastating,” and the normally candid defender has been quiet since the team promoted Brian Schottenheimer to the HC post.
One would not expect the McCarthy decision to be an insurmountable obstacle to a Parsons-Cowboys re-up, a deal that has been discussed for some time. However, like fellow standout EDGE Myles Garrett, who has requested a trade from the Browns, Parsons may see the Cowboys as a club that could be in something of a transition phase.
In addition, Dallas has both QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb on deals at or near the top of the market for their respective positions, and Parsons is on track to top the highly-lucrative pass rusher market (currently paced by Nick Bosa’s $34.2MM AAV). And, depending on when he signs his deal relative to positional peers like Garrett, T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby, and Trey Hendrickson – all of whom are older than Parsons and arguably not as talented – Parsons could leave Bosa’s number in the dust.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones recently said team brass will evaluate the wisdom of having so much money tied up in so few players, though he also indicated he did not envision Parsons playing for any team other than Dallas. However, Pelissero and Rapoport hear that the team has at least had some internal discussions about whether to trade the Penn State product.
If the Cowboys do entertain a trade, the return could be staggering (some league execs and coaches believe Garrett, who is three years Parsons’ senior, could fetch a haul including two Day 1 picks). Parsons, who is entering his age-26 season, has strung together four remarkable years that have him on a surefire Hall of Fame trajectory. Strong against the run and dominant when rushing the passer, Parsons is 4-for-4 in Pro Bowl nods and has two First Team All-Pro bids as well (to go along with several near misses in Defensive Player of the Year voting and even some down-ballot MVP consideration in 2022). Despite missing some time due to injury in 2024, Parsons tallied 12 sacks, bringing his career total to 52.5 (an average of over 13 per year).
It would be easy to see a team ponying up the draft capital and the contract necessary to get a deal done, but it would still be surprising if the Cowboys moved on from a talent like Parsons (especially since the team presumably does not see itself in a transitional posture). Indeed, Clarence Hill Jr. of ALL CITY DLLS unequivocally states that such a trade will not happen, and Joel Corry of CBS Sports expects Dallas and Parsons to come to terms on a new contract over the next few months.
Nonetheless, the possibility creates one more intriguing storyline in a 2025 pass rusher market that is rife with them.
Micah Parsons Hoping For Extension Before Training Camp
Both Micah Parsons and the Cowboys have expressed interest in keeping the dynamic edge rusher in Dallas for the foreseeable future. Of course, that would require a long-term agreement between the two sides, as Parsons is currently set to enter the 2025 season as an impending free agent.
[RELATED: Micah Parsons Aiming For Cowboys Extension Prior To Free Agency]
While Parsons previously expressed optimism that an extension could be completed before the start of this offseason’s free agency, it sounds like the veteran is starting to move the goalposts on his expectations. While speaking to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Parsons said he “would think” or “[would] hope” that the two sides can agree on a new deal before the start of training camp in late July.
Both sides have said all the right things over the past few months. Parsons has stated his desire to have his number retired in Dallas, while Jerry Jones made it clear that the former first-round pick is a pillar of the organization (alongside Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb). While both the Cowboys and Parsons’ camp seem to have the same goal, that doesn’t necessarily mean that negotiations will be easy.
As Archer notes, Lamb’s negotiations with the Cowboys saw a similar start. Both sides were receptive to a long-term pact, and the pressure started to mount when Lamb was entering the final season of his rookie contract (via the fifth-year option), much like Parsons is now. However, those negotiations dragged on and on, with Lamb finally inking his extension in late August.
“You know, everybody puts a lot on when [the contract is] done,” Jones said when asked about completing extensions as early as possible. “Signing Dak when he signed and signing Lamb, it had nothing to do one way or the other with their injuries, the good things that happened or the negative things that happened. … It makes me wonder if you really think people are really that fragile. Fragile in their mentality. Fragile in their personal self. My point is no, it does not. And a lot of us live not having all the things buttoned up. … And so I don’t believe the timing [is an issue]. What I would really hang your hat on is how much we paid him and what he needs to be and what he is. That’s the big thing.”
Archer opines that inking Parsons early would better help the Cowboys navigate the offseason. Further, an extension could help to reduce the player’s cap hit for the 2025 campaign, making it even easier to add talent as the organization looks to return to contention. Plus, the two sides could avoid the lingering story line of a potential holdout; Archer notes that Parsons’ past attendance at offseason programs has been “spotty.”
One thing is certain: Parsons’ second NFL contract will pay him handsomely. The three-time All-Pro recipient has established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, with Parsons collecting 52.5 sacks through four seasons in the league.
Micah Parsons Aiming For Cowboys Extension Prior To Free Agency
A mutual interest exists between the Cowboys and Micah Parsons for a long-term extension to be worked out. Negotiations with the All-Pro edge rusher will be a central storyline during the offseason, but Parsons hopes to have a deal in place before the start of the new league year.
“I’m going to try and work with them as much as possible to help them attack free agency,” Parsons said about extension talks (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “I want to be back with this team. This offseason, I want to be here… I want to take big steps, so hopefully it can be done sooner than later so we can attack the offseason.”
Parsons stated before the 2024 campaign he would not engage in contract talks during the season. With Dallas set to miss the playoffs, though, a window of opportunity will soon open for team and player to reach agreement on a deal prior to free agency starting in March. The Cowboys are not expected to be aggressive in adding outside pieces this spring, and retaining in-house players will again be a top priority. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb secured new contracts ahead of Week 1 this year, and doing the same with Parsons will ensure stability along the edge.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones recently made comments which fell short of guaranteeing the 25-year-old would be extended this offseason, although he confirmed the team’s desire to avoid a trade or free agent departure next offseason. Owner Jerry Jones then made it clear no consideration has been given to a trade involving Parsons, who is on track for a fourth straight season with double-digit sacks despite missing time earlier in the campaign. Dallas made a record-breaking $60MM-per-year commitment to Prescott after Lamb’s extension checked in at $34MM per season (the second-highest figure for receivers).
Parsons has long been considered a candidate for a pact making him the league’s highest-paid edge rusher. That distinction currently belongs to Nick Bosa, whose 49ers deal carries an AAV of $34MM. In his most recent comments on a potential extension, however, Parsons has indicated reaching the top of the position’s pecking order may not be necessary to get a deal done. The Penn State product doubled down on that stance when again stating his desire for the Cowboys to bring back as many members of their current edge rush group as possible.
If no extension is worked out in the near future, the possibility could be in place that Parsons holds out from voluntary workouts during the spring. The three-time Pro Bowler is currently set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, but a major raise from his scheduled $21.32MM will be in store once a new deal is worked out. Parsons said he does not anticipate holding out from minicamp and/or OTAs in the event an agreement has not been reached; it will be interesting to see if successful negotiations prevent such a scenario from taking place.
Jerry Jones Shoots Down Micah Parsons Trade Speculation
The Cowboys’ disappointing season has stirred much speculation about the future of the franchise, but owner Jerry Jones adamantly shot down any chance of trading Micah Parsons.
“That’s never been uttered in this organization that we don’t have a future with Micah Parsons,” Jones said on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan via ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Recent comments from Cowboys executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones snowballed into speculation that the team was considering trading their All-Pro pass rusher.
“Obviously we’re totally all-in on Dak [Prescott] and CeeDee [Lamb],” said Jones via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “but after that, then you still shape things, including Micah [Parsons]. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”
That led to a postgame question for Parsons on Sunday regarding a potential offseason trade.
“I understand how that business side goes. There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else,” responded Parsons, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Obviously I’ve stated that I want to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.”
While Parsons could earn one of the league’s biggest defensive contracts on the open market, he seems open to less money if that means staying in Dallas.
“So, I would rather just be in the best situation, you know? At that point, I don’t think there’s a big difference between $30 million and $40 million in my eyes, you know?” said Parsons on December 9, per Archer. “At the end of the day,whatever it takes for me just to continue to be a Cowboy until I retire, that’s what I want,” he continued.
The Cowboys picked up Parsons’ fifth-year option in March, keeping him under contract in 2025 for $21.3MM, but a long-term extension would free up more money for Dallas to address other holes on their roster.
Stephen Jones Addresses Cowboys’ Upcoming Micah Parsons Negotiations
Just as the 2024 offseason was largely defined by high-profile extension negotiations, the Cowboys will again have a major contract matter to attend to this spring. Edge rusher Micah Parsons is on track to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, but a long-term deal will be the central aim of team and player once negotiations begin.
Parsons was eligible for a monster second contract this past offseason, but the cases of quarterback Dak Prescott and wideout CeeDee Lamb took precedence. Both players landed new deals to avoid a potential free agent spell, but by making major commitments in each case the Cowboys continued their trend of authorizing big-ticket contracts to players at the top of the depth chart. A busy spring in terms of outside spending should not be expected, and retaining Parsons will require signficant cap resources.
“Obviously we’re totally all in on Dak and CeeDee,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) when asked about Parsons talks. “But after that, then you still shape things, including Micah. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”
Parsons has remained productive in 2024 before and after the high ankle sprain he suffered midway through the campaign. He currently has 6.5 sacks, giving him a chance to reach double-digits in that regard for the fourth consecutive season. The three-time Pro Bowler has long been connected to a deal making him the league’s highest-paid edge rusher, and he could wait for the market to move when the likes of Myles Garrett (Browns) and T.J. Watt (Steelers) negotiate new pacts before engaging in serious Cowboys talks. Nick Bosa‘s 49ers pact carries an annual average value of $34MM per year, a figure which Parsons might not be entirely set on surpassing on his second contract.
While Jones did not offer a public guarantee Parsons will be retained beyond 2025 (when he is scheduled to collect $21.32MM), he added he “can’t imagine there’s a scenario” in which the 25-year-old would play for a team other than Dallas. Parsons has expressed a desire to stay with the Cowboys through the remainder of his career, and reaching agreement on a long-term accord will go a long way toward ensuring that.
Dallas’ commitments to Prescott and Lamb will lead to major cap implications for years to come, and other major financial decisions will be tied to new deals for pending free agents Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence or pacts for their replacements. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (who is out for the year) is on the books through 2028, and his salary for next season is set to vest early in the new league year. Adjustments and cuts will take place between now and then, but Parsons’ status will remain a situation worth watching closely.