There’s an old saying and even a song that says “Good things come to those who wait, but not for those who wait to late” (shoutout to the great artist Grover Washington Jr.). Cowboys star DE Micah Parsons certainly has handled this situation as best as possible without causing distractions.
Entering his fifth NFL season, Parsons certainly deserves a long-term extension, particularly when other defensive standouts have recently gotten the “bag”. Micah is in the last year of his rookie contract deal, which will pay him $24 million this year.
When healthy, Parsons clearly is one of the most dominant defensive threats in the league, wreaking havoc on any and all opposing offenses. He has all the tools of a future Hall of Famer, including speed, agility, strength, and ball awareness. Over the first four years of his career, Parsons has posted some very strong numbers to justify a long-term extension. Micah Parsons has had at least 12 sacks in four consecutive seasons, 4 consecutive Pro Bowl selections, and 2 first-team All-Pro nods.
Let’s not forget about his 256 tackles and nine forced fumbles over that time span. Just his presence alone upfront on the defensive line forces opposing teams to double-team him frequently. The longer the Cowboys wait to negotiate a long-term deal, the more it may potentially cost them, particularly as the market resets.
One of the biggest factors in all of this is the health of Parsons and keeping him on the field less. What I mean by that is if Dak and the offense step up in terms of productivity, thus staying on the field longer, this gives Micah and the Dallas defense some much needed rest. Last year against the New York Giants, Parsons was injured with a high ankle sprain. This resulted in him missing four games, which created a huge void in the Cowboys’ defensive line.
Jerry Jones and the front office already know what needs to be done regarding Parsons and a long-term extension. It’s only a matter of time before it happens, but in the best interest of all parties involved, sooner than later would be highly recommended. This will be welcomed with open arms by Micah, as that bag needs to be filled with heavy compensation.