Cowboys pick up Micah Parsons' 5th-year option ✭ Inside The Star

Are the Cowboys the best team in the NFC? — ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 27: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a sack of Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on September 27, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

In what has been a quiet offseason for the Cowboys, they are in the news today after a contract decision.

The Dallas front office has picked up the 5th-year option on Micah Parsons’ contract.

This means Parsons will be paid just over $21M in 2025, adding a guaranteed extra season with him in Dallas.

Cowboys exercised the fifth-year option on Micah Parsons’ contract. pic.twitter.com/CYIptAwYol

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2024

Parsons joins CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Byron Jones, and Zack Martin as Cowboys first-round picks to have this option picked up in the last ten years.

This is not a shocking move by any means.

Parsons has developed into an All-Pro and one of the most dominant players in the league.

However, it does signal the team’s desire to keep him around and make sure they are in a position to do that long-term.

Earlier this off-season, rumors were swirling of the Cowboys “wearing thin” of Parsons.

While some shrugged this news off, others hypothesized that it could be the start of an effort by Dallas to push Parsons out or knock down his value in eventual contract negotiations.

Multiple members of the #Cowboys organization are NOT HAPPY with behavior of DE Micah Parsons per The Drive pic.twitter.com/q0tn5RO3Oi

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) April 5, 2024

The team has pushed back on that rumor, stating that they want to keep Parsons long-term.

This move backs that theory up.

What Does This Mean Long-Term?

In a press conference yesterday, Jerry Jones beat around the bush on a possible Parsons extension.

The Dallas Owner and GM said the team is playing “option quarterback” regarding contract extensions for Parsons, Lamb, and franchise Quarterback, Dak Prescott.

Do we know what that really means?

Not exactly, but as much as he can test tactics to disguise their plan, this news makes it clear.

Parsons’ 5th-year option being picked up was a crucial first step to a likely record-breaking extension in Dallas.

Now, it is just a matter of if the Cowboys smartly get on it quickly.

We’ve seen how risky it is when you don’t lock up your star players early.

Dallas waited too long with Prescott and Lamb, and they are now both facing free agency in 2025.

It is rare to see players of Prescott and Lamb’s caliber play out the final years of their contracts.

Dak should be confident. He’s going to win his contract negotiation with Jerry or someone else with another team in 2025. https://t.co/Z3SzDW2a0B

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) April 20, 2024

Could that mean Parsons’ deal gets done sooner?

Bringing us back to the 5th-year option, picking it up ensures they have time to answer that question.

The Cowboys are in a money crunch, there is no doubt about that.

But, they have more than enough to lock Parsons up, proven by the $21M this 5th-year option will cost them.

The question now will be is this just a formality or a sign that Dallas wants to extend Parsons long-term?

Mark Heaney

Mark Heaney is an NFL scout and sports journalist who has covered college football and the NFL since 2018. He has professionally evaluated over 1,000 NFL Draft prospects. At InsideTheStar.com, Mark has published 319 articles on ITS reaching over 1.1 million readers. His work has also appeared on FanSided, Whole Nine Sports, and Downtown Sports Network. Mark studied at UNC Charlotte and served as a media intern for the Charlotte 49ers football program.