In Dallas, it’s essentially a business model to take too long to pay your stars. Before recognising Dak Prescott’s worth, they allowed him to drag his ankle on the turf. CeeDee Lamb’s patience was put to the strain until he lit up the salary cap and secondary. And now? Micah Parsons is now being pursued like a shaky stock: too excellent to sell but too costly to purchase just yet.

This goes beyond just chit-chat. It’s leverage. Micah’s rookie contract, which has a nice $24 million cap hit, expires in 2025. But every day Dallas waits, the edge market rises. Maxx Crosby established the standard at $35.5 million annually. It was increased to $40M by Myles Garrett. T.J. Watt is set to raise it even further. If Watt hits $42M, Micah’s number will start there. The problem is, Micah isn’t crashing. He’s already on the move.

So it struck a bit too close to reality when Kevin Durant quipped that Parsons will be a Commander “two years from now.” Parsons responded with love for Dan Quinn—his former DC turned Washington HC—and not much else. “Yo, I only rock with Dan Quinn,” he said. “Exactly. That’s all ya need to rock with!“ Durant clapped back. And why shouldn’t he? Instead of treating Micah Parsons like a foundational piece, Jerry Jones is treating him like a limited-time offer that might expire if ignored long enough. Even after his recent message to the organization, “It’s going to cost them more.”

Still, he showed up at the minicamp without any holdup or drama. But not without sending a silent-but-deafening message: I’m here and I’m watching. He FaceTimed coaches, carried the playbook, did drills, even dropped, “I’ve wanted to be a Cowboy.” But no matter how much he performs the loyal soldier bit, the real fight is financial.

Even his own brother couldn’t hold it in—Terrence Parsons Jr. co-signed a fan’s post, dragging Jerry Jones’ “next year” mentality. The post read, “The craziest thing about the Cowboys putting together a CHAMPIONSHIP roster… they’ll really be 2-3 pieces short and say ‘nah, we’re good… let’s wait until next year to see what we find.'” And Parsons’ brother just gave a one-word reply: “This.” Short, sharp, and loaded. Micah had 12 sacks in 13 games last season. Missed four games. Still finished with more QB hits (23) than most edge rushers with full health. The numbers speak. The silence from Jones? It’s going to cost him millions of dollars.

Cowboys delay could make Micah Parsons a $200M problem

According to Cowboys insider Mike Fisher, Parsons is about to cash out for a historic payday. “It’s inevitable and it’s almost inarguable,” Fisher said. That’s not fan optimism. That’s a market prediction. Five years. Over $200 million. That’s the number circling every Cowboys room whiteboard—and the longer they wait, the uglier it gets. 

Parsons is currently on a $24M fifth-year option, which is a discount so generous it belongs in a Black Friday ad. But when did the Watt deal hit? Poof. That $40M number becomes cute. Micah won’t settle. He shouldn’t settle. “Micah is going to sign the richest-ever non-QB contract in NFL history,” Fisher added.

The Cowboys know this. Parsons knows this. And apparently, so does every NFL insider not named Jerry. Despite the silence, reports say the deal will happen before training camp. But the clock’s ticking—and Parsons isn’t the one sweating. He’s already showing leadership. Already carrying the weight. Already hinting at where he might go next if things don’t add up in Dallas. And the biggest twist? He may not be bluffing.