In 2024, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons waited patiently while the team dragged its feet on paying receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott. In 2025, Parsons is up for a new deal.
Some think the Cowboys should consider trading him, in lieu of paying him. (Rodney Harrison recently made that case on PFT Live.) In recent comments to NFL.com, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones tiptoed around the possibility of a Parsons trade.
“Obviously we’re totally all in on Dak and CeeDee,” Jones told the league’s in-house media outlet, “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.”
Throwing in the word “usually” is just enough to make folks wonder whether the Cowboys might do the unusual.
“We love Micah,” Jones said. “I can’t imagine there’s a scenario where he’s not wearing a star on his helmet.”
Jones’s comments came days after Parsons handed the team plenty of leverage during an interview with ESPN.
“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,” Parsons said.
He later said this: “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? And that’s just me talking.”
But he’s also the one who will be signing the contract. So his words are more important than anyone’s.
The Cowboys surely don’t want to trade Micah. But if he doesn’t want to be traded even more than they don’t want to trade him, advantage Cowboys.
The Cowboys try to get players to take less to stay in Dallas. They throw an arm around their shoulders and talk about how having a star on the helmet unlocks millions in off-field earning potential, now and in the future. Look at the broadcasting industry. Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, Jason Witten, Jason Garrett. All former Cowboys. All landed prominent spots in the media.
Parsons has made it clear he wants to stay. Which means that, if he pushes for too much, maybe he doesn’t get what he wants. Maybe they trade him.
Remember, most non-quarterbacks have only one major renegotiation in their careers. Teams do them all the time. With the Cowboys being consistently squeezed in contract negotiations dating all the way back to Ezekiel Elliott, Parsons has given them a chance to squeeze back.
It’s simple.
“If that’s how much you want, our only choice is to trade you.”
“Don’t trade me! I’ll take what you’ve offered!”
