The Dallas Cowboys are currently 5-8 heading into their game against the Panthers, and executive Stephen Jones summed up the team’s situation by saying they’re “just trying to win a game.” This season has been frustrating for the Cowboys, and regardless of how the last four games play out, the team’s leadership will spend the offseason evaluating how they arrived at this point. Key figures like Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and vice president of player personnel Will McClay will assess the impact of signing high-profile, top-of-position players and how those decisions affect the rest of the roster.
As Stephen Jones told NFL.com after the NFL’s December League Meeting, “To me, it would be irresponsible if every year you don’t look at the full body of work and the big picture and how those guys fit into that big picture…and how we want to think about our team in terms of the big picture going forward.”
The Cowboys’ offseason study becomes particularly interesting with the potential for a blockbuster contract extension for star defender Micah Parsons. The season began with Dak Prescott’s record-setting deal, making him the highest-paid quarterback per year, though he’s now sidelined after hamstring surgery in November. Receiver CeeDee Lamb also signed a massive deal this offseason and ranks among the league’s top three in catches and yards. However, Prescott’s injury underscored the problem, as offensive lineman Zack Martin, one of the highest-paid guards, is out for the season with an ankle injury and might retire. Cornerback Trevon Diggs, who also signed a big extension, is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
These issues have led to an internal review of the Cowboys’ roster strategy. Stephen Jones noted, “I think that’s a balancing act that you always got to look at…Especially when your good, good players get hurt and are not on the field. It totally magnifies the issue if you lose guys like Dak, and Diggs misses games, Zack Martin misses games and it’s going to magnify something like that. You’re going to say, ‘God, are we smart having this much money tied in to the top five to 10 players?'”
Looking ahead, the Cowboys have more than $20 million in projected salary cap space for 2025, not factoring in potential retirements or other adjustments.
This brings attention to Parsons‘ situation, as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, which includes a fifth-year option worth over $24 million. He’s patiently waited for Prescott and Lamb to get paid, and now it’s his turn. When asked if the big-money contracts for key players would influence Parsons’ negotiations, Stephen Jones said, “Yeah, that’ll all be things we’ll consider.”
“Obviously we’re totally all in on Dak and CeeDee,” Jones continued, “but after that, then you still shape things, including Micah. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”
If Parsons were ever available for trade, he would be the most sought-after defensive player since the Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Bears in 2018 for two first-round picks and more.
Asked directly if Parsons could be traded, Stephen Jones replied, “We love Micah. I can’t imagine there’s a scenario where he’s not wearing a star on his helmet.”
