Edge-rusher Micah Parsons is in line for a massive extension in 2025, but whether the Dallas Cowboys will show him the money remains to be seen.
Dallas is cash-strapped after it extended quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240 million) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136 million) in 2024. The Cowboys made Prescott the league’s highest-paid player, while Lamb became the second-highest-paid wide receiver behind Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Extending Parsons – who’s set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2025 – would further deplete cap space. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes thinks the Cowboys should find a way to pay him anyway.
.@MinaKimes doesn’t understand “what’s so hard” about the Cowboys extending All-Pro LB Micah Parsons
“You take the top edge contract … then you add some money. Boom. Done.” pic.twitter.com/B6u3nuustj
.@MinaKimes doesn't understand "what's so hard" about the Cowboys extending All-Pro LB Micah Parsons 😅
"You take the top edge contract … then you add some money. Boom. Done." pic.twitter.com/B6u3nuustj
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 3, 2025
“I don’t understand what’s so hard about this,” Kimes said Monday on ESPN’s “NFL Live.” “You take the top edge contract, which I believe is Nick Bosa, and then you add some money. Boom. Done.”
Bosa became the highest-paid edge rusher in the league when he signed a five-year, $170M deal with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
To pay Parsons more than Bosa, Dallas could have Lamb and Prescott restructure their contracts. Over the Cap estimates that would save Dallas $47.6 million in cap room.
Prescott and Lamb may be willing to do that, especially if it helps the Cowboys keep a player of Parsons’ caliber. Since being drafted No. 12 overall by Dallas in 2021, the 25-year-old has made four Pro Bowls and earned two first-team All-Pro nods.
The Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins recently reported the Cowboys and Parsons have started contract negotiations. Dallas can finalize a new deal with Parsons after the start of the new league year on March 12 at 4 p.m. EST.
