The Dallas Cowboys have been extremely busy before free agency.
They sent shockwaves around the NFL when they locked up Osa Odighizuwa, who is one of the game's most underrated defenders, and followed that by restructuring the contracts of CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott to free up close to $60 million in cap space.
Those moves have overshadowed the re-signing of special teams ace C.J. Goodwin and retaining several exclusive rights free agents, including Juanyeh Thomas, Brock Hoffman, and Tyrus Wheat.
While all nifty pieces of business, Micah Parsons' contract remains the elephant in the room. The Cowboys have more than enough cap room to be aggressive in free agency. That suggests they might slow-play negotiations with Parsons, who wants to sign early to help the team spend.
Jerry Jones told the media that he too wants to get Parsons' deal done, but that may be more complicated now thanks to a coach who nearly got the Cowboys' job.
Pete Carroll, Raiders extending Maxx Crosby complicates Cowboys' Micah Parsos contract dilemma
The Raiders on Wednesday signed star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to a three-year, $106 million extension that includes $91 million in guaranteed money. Crosby's $35.5 million annual average value makes him the highest-paid non quarterback in NFL history
The #Raiders are making star edge Maxx Crosby the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL, per me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2025
It’s a 3-year deal worth $106.5M with $91.5M guaranteed. Deal done by @CJLaBoy and @DHendrickson41 of @Wasserman. pic.twitter.com/ALKZqW7uGR
It just so happens that Raiders head coach Pete Carroll was one of the final calls Jerry Jones made during Dallas' head coaching search. While Carroll gave eventual new coach Brian Schottenheimer a ringing endorsement to Jones, reports confirmed the team's interest in Carroll.
Read More: Cowboys now among top 10 in NFL salary cap space after Dak Prescott restructure
Nevertheless, the Cowboys now have their benchmark for a Parsons extension. While Parsons has stated publicly that he would take a discount to help Dallas keep and sign other players, that feeling might change depending on how many standout pass rushers sign before him.
Ideally, Parsons will reset the EDGE market in at least one category, whether it be annual average value, guaranteed money or total contract value. It's the least he deserves.
Parsons is just one of two players in NFL history who have recorded 12 or more sacks in their first four seasons. He's an annual lock to finish top five in pressures and pass-rush win rate despite being constantly double-teamed and chipped. You can make a strong argument that he's the second-best defensive player in football behind Myles Garrett.
Crosby's extension does not mean Parsons' deal won't get done. It also doesn't mean Parsons won't walk back his stance that he doesn't need to be the highest-paid defender.
However, it will start the conversation about Jerry Jones waiting for the "leaves to fall" to get a proper understanding of the market, just as he did with CeeDee Lamb last offseason. That the Cowboys are suddenly flush with cap space only supports those fears.