The Dallas Cowboys have already set the table for their next contract negotiation with a homegrown superstar. It is Micah Parsons' turn to get paid and the process promises to be just as, if not more, anxiety-inducing as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb's negotiations.
With significant money tied to their best players and amid an injury-riddled season, executive vice president Stephen Jones all but announced the Cowboys' intention to tighten their budget this offseason.
Prescott, Lamb, Trevon Diggs and Zack Martin are all among the highest-paid players at their respective positions. They also have DeMarcus Lawrence and Terence Steele making well north of $10 million per year.
That obviously should not dissuade the Cowboys from making Parsons the highest-paid defender in NFL history, but this front office is a special breed of dysfunctional. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Dallas will rethink everything this offseason, including paying upper-echelon talent.
In doing so, Jones didn't rule out trading Parsons and the superstar pass rusher had a somber reaction when asked about it after Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers.
Cowboys Micah Parsons has concerning reaction to baffling trade report
"I understand how that business side goes," said Parsons, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. "There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I'm here or anywhere else. Obviously I've stated that I want to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side."
"I've put in a lot of work, I've played hard too, so obviously if sides can't agree to those type of things, it happens like that. But I'm just happy to be here. I'm just gonna keep playing hard while I'm here. If I'm here for the next 5-6 years, I'm gonna keep playing hard then too. Ain't nothing really gonna make a difference, Micah is gonna play hard."
The #Cowboys will rethink everything this offseason, including the ramifications of paying top-end talent. But what does that mean for the looming contract for star Micah Parsons?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2024
Stephen Jones weighed in. My story: https://t.co/H0F783RRnWhttps://t.co/H0F783RRnW
In fairness to Jones, he said he can't imagine Parsons playing anywhere else. Parsons has echoed that sentiment since he first announced himself as one of the game's premier defenders. There seems to be a mutual desire for Parsons to sign a long-term contract with Dallas, but it is not going to be an easy process. Not even close.
That is seemingly what Jones was getting at.
However, it is still disconcerting that Parsons had to answer trade questions after he dominated in a Cowboys win. He finished with two sacks, eight pressures and six hurries, per PFF (subscription required). He ranks sixth in total pressures this season despite missing four games.
There aren't enough stats to properly convey Parsons' dominance every week, but Dallas' experience in four games without him compared to how they've played with him back should end any thought of trading him. The defense falls apart when he's not in the lineup. He holds everything together.
The Cowboys can be really dumb with contracts, but trading Parsons would be one of the worst decisions in franchise history regardless of the potential returns. It's hard to imagine they are that inept.
Again, they took it right down to the buzzer with Prescott and Lamb. Parsons' negotiation may prove to be more irritating, but there's no reason to think Parsons won't be in Dallas for the foreseeable future. By crying poverty, Jones merely set the stage for another drawn-out process.