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 to camp however not collaborating, as he awaited a contract extension.

Final season, quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb did not get their respective new offers performed till near the season, so many assumed Parsons’ state of affairs would observe go well with. Nevertheless, on Friday, Parsons posted on social media that he is requesting a trade.

“I now not wish 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 as much as Parsons’ commerce request?

At first of camp, Parsons stated he was not pissed off, however he was discouraged. With none formal negotiations in any respect, he lastly felt it was essential to make the request. It was not made flippantly. Parsons grew up a Cowboys fan and on draft evening in 2021 he willed it into fruition, even after Dallas traded again to No. 12 total in a take care of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Parsons stated the “repeated pictures” led to this resolution. On the opening press convention of coaching camp, proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones made a flippant comment that even when the Cowboys signed Parsons, it will 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 “faint” in relation to what he heard from followers within the Lamb talks final 12 months. Govt vice chairman Stephen Jones stated of the followers’ chant, “It does not change something. We wish to pay Micah, too. He is received to wish to be paid, too.” — Archer

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

A number of sources can’t recall a time when a Cowboys participant requested a commerce. Whereas there have been contentious negotiations up to now — working again Emmitt Smith missed two regular-season video games in 1993 — it had not gotten to the purpose the place a participant would ask to maneuver on.

Whereas the Cowboys have finally paid their star gamers, it has taken time to get offers completed, together with with Prescott (twice), working again Ezekiel Elliott, guard Zack Martin and Lamb in recent times.

If he opts to take a seat, Parsons will be fined $50,000 a day if he leaves camp. Nevertheless, since he’s on his rookie deal, it may be rescinded by the membership. Final 12 months, Lamb went by way of one thing related together with his maintain out.

In the end, Jones has by no means misplaced a star participant he wished to maintain. Parsons, nonetheless, has pushed the state of affairs 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 would that affect the protection?

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

Parsons has 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 grew to become an official stat in 1982. Parsons and White are the one gamers to document not less than 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 move speeding depth with Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams, rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku and Marshawn Kneeland, however they do not have the identical affect as Parsons, who was a finalist for Defensive Participant of the 12 months in every of his first three seasons.

That foursome has mixed for 64 sacks with 55.5 coming from Fowler. — Archer

What are folks across the league saying?

After talking with a number of league executives within the hours after the Parsons information, there’s real intrigue and shock about why Dallas takes this tactic with star gamers.

“They’re costing themselves tens of millions each summer time,” stated a high-ranking NFC government, including that the staff’s obvious curiosity in headlines and tv dialog round Dallas’ 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 word that Dallas can be enjoying with fireplace relating to a participant and agent (David Mulugheta) who do not thoughts the position of villain.

“Mistaken participant,” a supply with direct data of Parsons’ course of stated of the Cowboys’ techniques.

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

The tone of Garrett’s request is way completely different than the one Parsons made.

Garrett took to social media in February and stated, “Whereas I cherished calling this metropolis my house, my want to win and compete on the most important phases will not permit me to be complacent. The aim has by no means been to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has all the time 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 backwards and forwards he had with Jerry Jones in March, saying the unique intent was to debate management and Jones turned the topic to his contract.

Can the perimeters restore a relationship that had Parsons by no means wanting to depart Dallas and saying to ESPN in December that he did not should be the 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 rapidly 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 Bills Professional Bowl middle Eric Wood 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.”