The Dallas Cowboys are nearing a key point for three of their top stars.
Dak Prescott is due for a record-breaking contract extension while CeeDee Lamb is nearing the end of his rookie deal.
While it seems likely Jerry Jones is planning on inking a new deal with Prescott, it’s going to be hard to give each of the three stars the top-level money they will be seeking with their new deals.
Micah Parsons is set to have just a $5.4 million cap hit in 2024 but the defensive star will enter the final season on a four-year, $17 million rookie deal.
Dallas also has the chance to pick up Parsons’ fifth-year option for 2025, a move that the front office will almost assuredly make. Last May, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell projected that Parsons’ average annual salary could get into the $32 million range.
After two All-Pro seasons and winning NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year in his inaugural campaign, Parsons has continued to dominate as a pass rusher and one of the most elite defenders in the NFL. He closed out 2023 with 14 sacks and a third-straight trip to the Pro Bowl.
Micah Parsons finally made his first comments following the early playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers and per usual, the Dallas Cowboys star didn’t hold back his words.
“They’re talking about how we’re going ‘all in’ this year. Man, that’s what I would hope for,” Parsons said. “I’m 24 years old. I’ve been in this league three years and I’ve kinda seen it all. I hope we go all in. I hope that we go out and get the players that we’re missing, because we didn’t do that this year. I hope that we challenge ourselves to become better and become greater for us.”
Parsons called the Cowboys’ loss “completely embarrassing and unacceptable” and it seems he’ll be expecting a big reaction from the team.
The Cowboys edge rusher made it clear on a recent podcast episode the team’s current focus should be on inking deals with Prescott and Lamb, while selflessly noting they can visit his extension after the season. Still, he wasn’t shy about calling out what went wrong for Dallas in 2023.
Dallas Cowboys Star Micah Parsons Unleashes On Team’s Culture In 2023
On a recent episode of his podcast, Parsons seemed to say the Cowboys were lacking accountability in 2023 which played a role in their early playoff exit.
“We need to have way more accountability. I just think we let things slide too often because we know we’re good. That’s all about me. I want to change the culture. I want to change the identity of what the Cowboys are. Cut the extra stuff out, I just want people to lock in for 22 weeks. Seven months can change your life. And I’m ready.”
It’s clear Micah Parsons believes the Dallas Cowboys have the talent in place to reach a Super Bowl, but the team needs to be more disciplined —and as one of the leaders — he’s taking it on himself to help change the culture in the locker room.
“The talent is there. We got to have discipline and that will to win. We got to be together. And we have to have the leaders. I feel like that was the difference, and it showed. I got to step up. You got to step up. Everybody has to step up. We got to all look in this mirror. We got to deal with this one.”
The Cowboys are entering 2024 with their head coach on the hot seat and several shakeups on the defensive side of the coaching staff with Dan Quinn taking over as the head coach in Washington and brining much of his staff with him.