Parson could be considering “drastic measures”
Are storm clouds gathering for the Dallas Cowboys?
NFL Insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic is reporting that contract negotiations have broken down between the Cowboys and star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Russini writes that things have gotten so bad that Parsons could request a trade or state openly that he wants nothing to do with the Cowboys anymore.
BREAKING: The Micah Parsons-Cowboys relationship has deteriorated to the point where the star pass rusher is considering drastic measures which could include a trade request or even a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team, per multiple league sources… pic.twitter.com/7Yujmv4JQ2
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 1, 2025
Parsons was originally drafted with the 12th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, and was eligible for a new deal after his third season. In other words, the window to extend Parsons opened after the 2023 season, and by that point it was already obvious that he is one the very best players in the NFL.
Instead, Dallas has waited until the 11th hour.
Over that time, other elite pass rushers have signed new contracts, raising the ceiling at the position and making Parsons that much more expensive. Most recently, T.J. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million contract, eclipsing Myles Garrett’s four-year $160 million in average value.
Parsons is obviously targeting that $41 million per year number. But even so, one has to wonder how the Cowboys could manage to screw up this relationship so badly. One of the cardinal rules of team building is that you don’t let franchise players at cornerstone positions walk — certainly not when they’re only 26 and just entering the prime of their career. And considering Parsons is the face of their defense and one of the faces of their team, playing hardball to the point of estrangement doesn’t seem like the wisest move.
Thursday night the news came across that Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has requested a trade. A schism between the Cowboys and Parsons would further muddy the waters of the NFC East.
There’s also a lesson in this for the Giants and Joe Schoen.
They should (need to) be proactive in extending their good young players. Finding money to keep players like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Wan’Dale Robinson, or Micah McFadden in the fold is just smart business. Things are competitive enough in the NFL that there’s no need for unforced errors before the games are even played.