Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons has spoken out about ongoing contract discussions with the team and said the franchise is costing itself money by waiting to make a deal.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Parsons is expected to sign a contract with the Cowboys that will make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, with the belief that he will earn an average of over $40 million per year.
Parsons recently discussed these negotiations and said “It’s going to cost them more” when asked about the Cowboys’ willingness to wait for an agreement, according to Sports Illustrated.
The four-time Pro-Bowler was likely referencing the two other top defensive linemen waiting for a contract, with the expectation that Parsons will receive significantly more than each of those players.
Currently, the Cincinnati Bengals are discussing an extension with Trey Hendrickson, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are negotiating a contract with T.J. Watt.
Hendrickson is estimated to sign a contract with an average annual salary worth $35 million, which will be the complete floor for a contract that Parsons will receive from the Cowboys.
Realistically, Parsons will receive a contract similar to Watt’s eventual deal, with the Cowboys believed to pay slightly more than the Steelers.
Watt has proven to be amongst the NFL elite on the defensive line, leading the NFL in sacks for two of the last four seasons.
Pittsburgh is likely to sign Watt to an extension that pays him just over $40 million per season. This would make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history for a short time.
Following this extension, Parsons will likely sign a contract with the Cowboys worth slightly more than Watt’s, giving him the largest salary in NFL defensive history.
By forgoing contract extension discussions, the Cowboys are literally costing themselves millions of dollars every season by allowing other teams to sign extensions earlier.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has not been phased by this realization. Earlier in the offseason, he claimed that he would rather wait and sign the deal.
“Some say using the basis that the earlier you get something done the cheaper, well the earlier you get something done, a lot of times the more mistakes you make. You might want to see a few more cards play, not just with that particular negotiation, but with the whole team,” explained Jones in April, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Despite the difficulty with signing this extension, Parsons said earlier in OTAs that he is confident a deal will be agreed upon before training camp in July.
“I’m pretty hopeful. I’m still hanging tight,” Parsons said, per The NFL.
“I understand it’s up to [owner Jerry Jones]. He gives the green light on everything, so hopefully something is done by next month.”