Micah Parsons was reluctant to part ways with the Dallas Cowboys. Ideally, he would have signed a contract extension that secured his place in Texas for several more years.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t how things unfolded.
As he approached the last year of his contract, Parsons had been seeking a long-term deal with the Cowboys for over a year. He even revisited negotiations just earlier this week.
In a report by NFL Media’s Jane Slater, it was noted that Parsons felt a sense of regret for the Cowboys following the emergence of trade rumors involving the two-time All-Pro. Consequently, he returned with a renewed perspective, expressing “empathy” for the Cowboys and aiming for a swift resolution.
However, the Cowboys were not ready to engage meaningfully. They issued Parsons an ultimatum: either stick to his fifth-year player option or move on. He seemingly opted for the latter.
I spoke with Micah Parsons this evening. He says “genuinely gonna miss ya’ll”
He says he and his team went back to the Cowboys about an extension with “empathy” when the trade interest was leaked this week.
The Cowboys response according to Parsons was “play on the 5th year…
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) August 28, 2025
While the Cowboys struggled to settle on an appropriate contract figure, the Green Bay Packers had no difficulty quickly inking Parsons to a lucrative four-year, $188 million deal. It’s a significant expenditure, both in trading two first-round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, yet it’s hard to argue against the idea that the Cowboys diminished while the Packers improved ahead of Week 1.
Following the trade, the Cowboys emphasized the need to strengthen their run defense, a task that Clark will now assist with. But who will fill the void left by Parsons’ impressive tally of 52.5 sacks accrued over the last four years?
Perhaps those extra first-round picks can help the Cowboys land several Pro Bowl or even All-Pro talents, akin to what Parsons offered. For now, it’s difficult not to feel a certain sadness for Cowboys supporters who had hoped this would finally be the year they broke their nearly 30-year drought without a Super Bowl victory. However, it’s worth noting that some franchises still have never claimed a championship, so the Cowboys still stand out in that regard.
Image Source: Micah Parsons @ Instagram
