Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones stated that the team had offered linebacker Micah Parsons a contract that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in guaranteed money in National Football League history. Jones made these comments while appearing on former Dallas wide receiver Michael Irvin’s YouTube channel.
“The world would know that I want Micah if they knew what I had offered him (… ) And he knows what I offered him.” Jones said to Irvin.
Jones explained that he and Parsons discussed contract terms in March during a meeting without Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, present. According to Jones, when the details were shared with Mulugheta, “the agent told us to stick it up our ass.”
Parsons is currently entering the final year of his rookie contract, set to earn just over $24 million for the 2025 season. He requested a trade on Aug. 1, stating in his public message, “I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present.” In further detail about their March conversation, Parsons wrote, “Somehow the conversation turned into him talking contract with me (…) Yes I engaged in a back and forth in regards to what I wanted from my contract, but at no point did I believe this was supposed to be a formal negotiation and I informed Mr. Jones afterward my agent would reach out thinking this would get things done.”
Currently, the largest amount of guaranteed money for any non-quarterback is held by Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt after signing a three-year extension worth $108 million guaranteed last month.
When asked about how much time remains before an agreement must be reached or other actions are taken by the team, Jones stated: “We really got three years to work this thing out,” referencing previous negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott as precedent. “We couldn’t agree so Dak played the last year of his contract and then we franchised him. It’s exactly what happened with Dak, so we moved forward and ultimately we got a contract, made Dak the highest-paid player in the NFL. So the precedent is handling it like Dak (…) But in this particular case, then Micah comes in and plays this year under his contract. If he doesn’t, then it’s very costly, very costly for everybody.”
Despite ongoing talks and apparent stalemate between sides regarding details or procedure of negotiations—particularly around representation—Parsons has continued attending training camp activities but has not practiced.
Jones addressed unresolved issues regarding involvement of Parsons’ agent: “Micah and I talked (in March) and then we were going to send it over to the agent (…) We had our agreements on terms, amount, guarantees, everything. We were going to send it over to the agent, and the agent said don’t bother because we have all that to negotiate. Well, I had already negotiated. I already moved off my mark in several areas. So the issue, very frankly, is we’ve had the negotiation in my mind. And the agent is trying to get his nose in it right now and try to come in there and improve off the mark that we had already set (… ) We’ve got this deal resolved in my mind, for the Dallas Cowboys. We’ve got it done. And if the agent wants to finish up the details, which he should, and do all the paperwork, he can do that. And we’re ready to go. But as far as the amount of money, the years, the guarantees—all of that—we’ve negotiated that.”
After news surfaced regarding Jones’ remarks Thursday evening Parsons removed all references to Dallas from social media accounts before posting a video signaling goodbye alongside audio from Allen Iverson declaring determination regardless of destination.
It remains unclear if either side will initiate renewed negotiations ahead of Dallas opening its regular season at Philadelphia on Sept. 4.
