The Dallas Cowboys haven’t placed edge-rusher Micah Parsons on the trade block but have reportedly considered it.
“While there have been no trade talks, sources say there have at least been some internal discussions about whether to pay Parsons or trade him for a king’s ransom,” NFL Media insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport wrote in a piece published Sunday.
In 2025, Parsons is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract and play on the fifth-year option, which gives him a fully guaranteed $24.007M base salary.
After making four Pro Bowls in his first four seasons in Dallas, Parsons is certainly in line for a massive extension. Spotrac estimates the 25-year-old’s market value is a three-year deal worth $30M annually.
The Cowboys, however, may be cash-strapped after signing quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) to mega extensions in 2024.
Per Spotrac’s salary cap tracker, the Cowboys are projected to be $2.38M over the cap in 2025.
According to Over The Cap, Prescott and Lamb restructuring their deals would yield $57.74M in cap savings. Still, a Parsons extension would devour future cap space, which the Cowboys need after they went 7-10 and missed the playoffs in 2024.
If the Cowboys shipped Parsons elsewhere, they could receive a haul. In a recent trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, Dallas deals Parsons to the Baltimore Ravens for wide receiver Zay Flowers, edge-rusher Kyle Van Noy and a 2025 first-round pick.
Despite that, Dallas must realize players of Parsons’ caliber are rare. Since being drafted No. 12 overall in 2021, he has earned two first-team All-Pro nods and has amassed 52.5 sacks.
Per CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, Parsons has said he would prefer to sign a new deal before free agency starts on March 12. If the Cowboys don’t give him one, that could raise more questions about his future with the club.
