Parsons Price Continues to Climb Amidst Record-Setting Extensions

The chatter surrounding Dallas this week might strike an uneasy chord with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Recently, for anyone who missed it, T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a contract that made him the highest-paid edge rusher in NFL history. This historic agreement followed closely on the heels of Myles Garrett’s extension, which had just claimed the top salary spot for edge rushers. So, why does this pose a dilemma for Jerry Jones? Simply put, the market for premier pass rushers like the Cowboys’ rising star Micah Parsons has surged once again, pushing the salary demands even higher.

After his training camp session on Tuesday, Parsons addressed the media, making it clear that he isn’t overly fixated on where his peers at the edge rusher position currently stand financially. Typically, players wait through their four-year rookie deals before negotiating extensions, but Parsons remarked, “It just all depends. Watt—I mean, he’s right there with Myles (Garrett). So, you know, it’s different. Everyone’s situation is unique.” His statement reveals a keen awareness of the shifting market dynamics while also hinting at a measure of frustration with the whole scenario.

Even though Myles Garrett reset the standard in March with an eye-popping $40 million-per-year contract from the Browns, Parsons maintained that his own valuation remained steady. “Not really, because I’m just going to get mine no matter what,” he said confidently about Garrett’s impact on his market worth. “You know what I mean? Like, the market shifts every year. Their salary cap went up by around 18% this year. So, when you talk contracts, they’re all based on percentages.”

Despite Parsons’s composed attitude and assured perspective, one fact is crystal clear: players expect fair compensation for their efforts, and Parsons’s on-field performance undoubtedly justifies a significant pay raise. His play compares consistently with talents like Garrett and Watt—if anything, he may rank just slightly below them, but not by much. This places unmistakable pressure on the Cowboys' management to finalize a deal before things get out of hand. Time is slipping away, and Dallas needs to move fast to lock down their emerging star ahead of any escalation in tensions.

Unfortunately, this scenario is far from new for Dallas, who have a pattern of waiting until the last possible moment—as seen with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s contract negotiations, and last year, when Dak Prescott’s extension was finalized a mere 72 hours before Week 1 kickoff. This approach benefits no one: the team ends up paying more, and the player waits longer for financial security; ultimately, it’s a lose-lose situation. It’s high time for Dallas and Jerry to face reality and abandon this counterproductive habit for the sake of the franchise’s future.