Micah Parsons’ commerce request and his future with the Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys coaching camp started final week with Professional Bowl move rusher Micah Parsons reporting however not taking part as he awaited a contract extension.

Final season, quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb did not get their respective new offers accomplished till near the season, so many assumed Parsons’ scenario would comply with swimsuit. Nonetheless, on Friday, Parsons posted on social media that he’s requesting a commerce.

“I not need to play for the Dallas Cowboys,” he wrote. “My commerce request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally.”

ESPN NFL reporters Todd Archer and Jeremy Fowler break down how we received right here, what it means and what’s subsequent for Parsons and the Cowboys.

What led to Parsons’ commerce request?

At first of camp, Parsons mentioned he was not annoyed however discouraged. With none formal negotiations, he lastly believed it was essential to make the request. It was not made frivolously. Parsons grew up a Cowboys fan and on draft evening in 2021 he willed changing into a Cowboy into fruition — even after Dallas traded again to No. 12 in a cope with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Parsons mentioned “repeated pictures” led to this choice. On the opening information convention of coaching camp, proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones made a flippant comment that even when the Cowboys signed Parsons, it could not assure his availability as a result of he “may get hit by a automobile.”

After a number of followers yelled, “Pay Micah!” final week, Jones referred to as these remarks “faint” compared to what he heard from followers within the Lamb talks final yr. Government vice chairman Stephen Jones mentioned of the followers’ chant, “It does not change something. We need to pay Micah, too. He is received to need to be paid, too.” — Archer

What’s Jones’ historical past with gamers who requested a commerce?

A number of sources mentioned they cannot recall a time when a Cowboys participant requested a commerce. Although there have been contentious negotiations prior to now — working again Emmitt Smith missed two regular-season video games in 1993 — it had not gotten to the purpose the place a outstanding participant requested to maneuver on.

The Cowboys have finally paid their stars, however it has taken time to get offers completed, together with with Prescott (twice), working again Ezekiel Elliott, guard Zack Martin and Lamb lately.

If he opts to sit down, Parsons could be fined $50,000 a day if he leaves camp. Nonetheless, as a result of he’s on his rookie deal the fines could be rescinded by the membership. Final yr, Lamb went by means of one thing comparable together with his holdout.

In the end, Jerry Jones has by no means misplaced a star participant he wished to maintain. Parsons, nonetheless, has pushed the scenario additional than anyone together with his commerce request. — Archer

Thanks Dallas 🦁👑 🙏🏾! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025

If Parsons refuses to play, how will that affect the protection?

Take away Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals and the way would they be? Or Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. That is the kind of affect Parsons has on the Cowboys.

Parsons recorded 52.5 sacks in his first 4 seasons, trailing solely Reggie White (70), Derrick Thomas (58), J.J. Watt (57) and DeMarcus Ware (53.5) since sacks turned an official stat in 1982. Parsons and White are the one gamers to report a minimum of 12 sacks in every of their first 4 seasons, and Parsons reached 12 in 2024 regardless of sitting out 4 video games due to a excessive ankle sprain.

The Cowboys like their pass-rushing depth with Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams, rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku and Marshawn Kneeland, however these guys haven’t got the identical affect as Parsons, who was a finalist for Defensive Participant of the Yr in every of his first three seasons.

That foursome has mixed for 64 sacks, 55.5 of them coming from Fowler. — Archer

What are individuals across the league saying?

A number of league executives interviewed within the hours after the Parsons information made it clear that there’s real intrigue and shock about why Dallas takes this tactic with star gamers.

“They’re costing themselves tens of millions each summer season,” mentioned a high-ranking NFC government, including that the staff’s obvious curiosity in headlines and tv dialog round contract points cannot be sufficient for the franchise to offset the cash misplaced.

Folks I’ve talked to depart open the likelihood that cooler heads will prevail later into August. However they notice that Dallas can be enjoying with fireplace concerning a participant and agent (David Mulugheta) who do not thoughts the position of villain.

“Incorrect participant,” a supply with direct data of Parsons’ course of mentioned of the Cowboys’ ways.

Parsons is the uncommon star with no blemishes — he is younger, injury-free and on a Reggie White-like trajectory.

A separate NFC exec mentioned he doesn’t consider the Cowboys will commerce Parsons. Though the commerce return would possible embody a first-round choose — presumably two No. 1s — such a deal could be troublesome for groups to drag off when contemplating the contract cash they must decide to the participant along with the misplaced draft capital. — Fowler

The tone of Garrett’s request is far totally different than the one Parsons made.

Garrett took to social media in February and mentioned, “Whereas I cherished calling this metropolis my dwelling, my need to win and compete on the largest levels will not enable me to be complacent. The aim has by no means been to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has at all times been to compete for and win a Tremendous Bowl.”

5 weeks later, Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension to stay with the Browns.

Parsons wrote about “repeated pictures at myself” and detailed the back-and-forth he had with Jerry Jones in March, saying that the unique intent was to debate management however that Jones turned the topic to his contract.

Can the perimeters restore a relationship that when had Parsons desirous to by no means depart Dallas and saying to ESPN in December that he did not should be the very best paid defensive participant within the sport? — Archer

How are different gamers responding to this information?

Deal with your greatest gamers early.

Saves cash.
Saves complications.

The longer you wait, the upper the value.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 1, 2025

Response to the Parsons information unfold shortly throughout social media, together with from a number of Cowboys teammates.

On X, Lamb responded: “By no means fails dawg. Simply pay the person, what you owe em. No want for the additional curricular.”

Cowboys teammates DeMarvion Overshown, Trevon Diggs and Juanyeh Thomas every modified their X profile image to incorporate Parsons.

Buffalo Payments Professional Bowl middle Eric Wooden posted a pic of Parsons in a Payments uniform holding a Lombardi Trophy with the caption: “Appears to be like good to me.”

Former Arizona Cardinals All-Professional defensive lineman J.J. Watt posted: “Deal with your greatest gamers early. Saves cash. Saves complications. The longer you wait, the upper the value.”