One week before the beginning of the regular season, the Cowboys and Packers accomplished a landscape-altering trade. Micah Parsons will play out his second contract in Green Bay after talks with Dallas didn’t produce a deal.
Further details on the method which ultimately resulted in Parsons landing a record-breaking investment for non-quarterbacks have emerged. The four-time Pro Bowler and his camp spent a lengthy period without negotiations happening, with owner Jerry Jones attempting to stick with the terms spoke about in the course of the spring. Agent David Mulugheta was not present for that conversation, something which proved to be a central talking point on this saga.
Within the aftermath of the trade, Parsons told NFL Network’s Jane Slater he and his camp went to the team in a bid to reengage on contract talks once reports emerged a few trade being possible in recent days. The 2-time All-Pro said Dallas’ response was for him to commit to playing on his fifth-year option or to “leave.” During Thursday’s press conference, Jones confirmed (via colleague Mike Garafolo) that was the team’s stance leading as much as the trade being finalized.
“We do have players that are available, and we totally respect it, that say, ‘I don’t feel comfortable talking about my contract. I’d such as you to undergo my agent,’” COO Stephen Jones said in the course of the presser (via Garafolo). “And we do this respectfully. I mean, you’re not required to are available and negotiate the contract yourself. All of the ones we’ve done like which are those that request to are available and visit with Jerry or myself. That’s the one ones we’ve done that way.”
Amongst Jerry Jones’ many comments on the situation was the claim he offered to make Parsons the highest earner for non-quarterbacks in the course of the unofficial spring contract talks. A report from yesterday indicated the deal discussed was five years in length and averaged $40.5MM per season. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe confirms (subscription required) those were indeed the terms presented by Dallas. In the long run, Parsons landed $47MM on average – together with massive guarantee figures – on a four-year Packers extension. Term length is usually a degree of contention regarding Cowboys contract talks, with the team preferring longer pacts.
Because the Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals indicated last offseason, though, Jones and Co. have been willing to compromise with four-year accords. That didn’t prove to be the case with Parsons. In consequence, the 26-year-old is on the move just before Week 1. The deteriorating relationship between team and player on this case included a trade request being issued on August 1, something which is commonplace during extension talks. Jerry and Stephen Jones added in the course of the press conference (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) they never felt as if Parsons genuinely wanted to go away, though.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes the length of Dallas’ offer appears to have been a difficulty. He adds the Penn State product’s behavior shifted over the course of the summer as this case played out; Parsons attended walkthroughs and team meetings but didn’t participate in on-field drills during training camp. His decision to put on medical table during Dallas’ final preseason contest became a talking point (and was immediately followed by a gathering with head coach Brian Schottenheimer). Jerry Jones noted that episode didn’t impact the choice to maneuver forward with a trade.
“We’ve definitely got a brand new coaching staff and a 3rd of all of the players are latest,” Jones said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News) when reflecting on the Parsons trade and the Cowboys’ 2025 prospects. “And clearly there’s freshness, we’ll use the word latest on that basis. We’ve the highest-paid player within the NFL at quarterback and we made that commitment last yr and we’re proud we made it. It had every thing to do with this decision. It gives us every opportunity with Dak Prescott, Lamb and the bottom that we got to win now.”
Observers are skeptical about Dallas’ defense improving within the short term without Parsons within the fold, although the inclusion of defensive tackle Kenny Clark within the package sent from Green Bay will help the Cowboys’ run defense. The fate of the 2 first-round picks Dallas also received might be key in telling the ultimate story of this trade. For now, all parties are positioned to maneuver forward after a last-minute effort to work out a Cowboys extension was shut down.