Mina Kimes has an easy recipe for Jerry Jones to extend Micah Parsons’ contract

Micah Parsons joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 after team picked him with the 12th pick from Penn State Nittany Lions.

Mina Kimes has an easy recipe for Jerry Jones to extend Micah Parsons’ contract

Jerry Jones, Micah Parsons, Mina Kimes (Images via CNN/The Spun/ESPN)

The Dallas Cowboys are heading into a financial puzzle, with star edge-rusher Micah Parsons due for a massive contract extension in 2025. Despite being one of the most valued teams in the National Football League, there’s a constant doubt of whether they would be able to afford him or not.

After handing out huge deals to quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240 million) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136 million) in 2024, Dallas is tight on cap space. But analysts like ESPN’s Mina Kimes claim that there’s an easy fix—just pay Parsons what he’s worth.

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Speaking on NFL Live, Kimes noted that the Dallas Cowboys has to match Nick Bosa’s contract to retain Parsons in the team.

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I don’t get why this is complicated. Find the highest edge-rusher contract—Nick Bosa’s five-year, $170 million deal—and add a little more. Done.

Mina Kimes stated

Of course, squeezing that kind of money into Dallas’ current cap situation isn’t simple. However, a straightforward solution exists: restructuring Prescott’s and Lamb’s contracts. According to Over the Cap, doing so could free up $47.6 million in cap space, making a Parsons extension much more feasible.

It’s a move that makes sense. Parsons, a dominant force since being drafted 12th overall in 2021, already boasts four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro selections. Keeping him in Dallas should be a priority. He was also one of the main forces in reviving the Dallas Cowboys from falling into deeper abyss as they kept losing games over and over again.

Negotiations are already underway, according to The Dallas Morning News. The Cowboys can officially lock in a new deal for Parsons after the new league year starts on March 12 at 4 p.m. EST.

Is Micah Parsons’ contract tumbling down the same Dak Prescott path?

While discussions between the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons regarding his contract extension have begun, history suggests that a resolution may not be imminent. The Cowboys have established a pattern of allowing negotiations with their key players to extend into the summer, often finalizing deals at the last possible moment.

Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons (Image via Imago)

They have seen this before. Last year, Dak Prescott’s extension was secured just hours before the season opener in Cleveland. However, there are a few things that’s quite different from Prescott and Parsons.

Micah Parsons has some strategic advantages in playing the long game. If another elite edge rusher secures a new contract before him, it would establish a benchmark for his negotiations. His representatives could then leverage that precedent to ensure he receives a deal that reflects his market value.

From the management perspective, it brings quite a lot of hassles. Teams value elite defensive players highly, but if a player begins to feel undervalued or frustrated with the team’s handling of negotiations, it is not uncommon for trade discussions to emerge.

In Parsons’ case, there is no clear indication that he is dissatisfied with the organization. Nevertheless, speculation has already surfaced about the possibility of the Cowboys moving on from their defensive leader.

Although, it has worked for them previously, there’s no surety it will work again. Delaying an extension too long could not only lead to a more expensive deal but also risk alienating one of their most dominant defensive players.

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