The Dallas Cowboys appear to be following a familiar-and increasingly costly-script when it comes to managing contracts for their star players.
This time, the subject is standout edge rusher Micah Parsons. Despite being one of the most dominant defensive players in the league, Parsons is still waiting on a long-term extension, and critics are again questioning the Cowboys‘ delay.
For years, team owner Jerry Jones has adopted a strategy of waiting until the last possible moment to finalize major contracts.
This pattern played out with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, and now it’s repeating with Parsons. But in the NFL, waiting rarely pays off financially.
Delaying Parsons’ deal could hurt Cowboys in the long run
On a recent episode of NFL on ESPN, reporter Adam Schefter stated he believes Dallas will eventually sign Parsons, but added that the timing is critical. The longer the Cowboys wait, the more expensive the deal will become.
Parsons is widely viewed as the second-best defensive player in the NFL behind Myles Garrett, who recently secured a four-year, $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns-currently the highest salary for any defensive player.
Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum didn’t hold back in his criticism. He pointed out that had the Cowboys acted a year ago, they might have secured Parsons for around $35-36 million annually.
Now, with the market shifting and top defensive salaries hitting $40 million, Dallas could be forced to offer significantly more-potentially adding $4-6 million per year on a long-term deal. That additional money could cost the team another starter or limit future cap flexibility.
Tannenbaum added that this isn’t new behavior for the Cowboys, saying, “They want to wait, and by waiting, it just gets more expensive.” Other analysts echoed that sentiment, noting the team often acts as if prices will somehow fall, even though NFL history shows otherwise.
Parsons has been nothing short of elite since entering the league. A former Defensive Rookie of the Year, he’s earned Pro Bowl honors every season and racked up 52.5 career sacks in just four years.
Even while missing four games due to a high ankle sprain last season, he still totaled 12 sacks.
Although Parsons attended the team’s recent mandatory minicamp, he didn’t participate in drills. Instead, he was often seen conversing with Jones on the sidelines.
Whether those conversations lead to action remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the longer Dallas waits, the higher the price tag becomes.
Read the full article here
