Micah Parsons Trade Denied by Cowboys' Jones amid Contract Talks: 'We Love Micah'

Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones affirmed the organization's desire to keep Micah Parsons as the star edge-rusher inches toward his free agency in 2026.

"We love Micah," Jones said to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "I can't imagine there's a scenario where he's not wearing a star on his helmet."

The specter of an extension for Parsons has loomed ever since his rookie season, when he was an All-Pro and totaled 13 sacks. It was readily apparent then that he'd be in line for a massive contract when his rookie deal expires, and that could mean an average salary of $30 million or more based on the present market.

For a lot of other NFL teams, re-signing Parsons would be a no-brainer. The 25-year-old is an elite talent in his prime playing years.

The Cowboys, however, have committed a lot of money to quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Their four-year extensions total $376 million, which averages out to $94 million annually.

After Prescott's deal was finalized, Parsons indicated he didn't see his future outside of Dallas.

Paying Prescott, Lamb and Parsons all market-level salaries would mean not having a lot of flexibility with the rest of the roster, though. And the Cowboys' 5-8 record illustrates how much work is required in order to become a serious Super Bowl contender again.

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson suggested in November that Dallas should "soft list" Parsons as a trade candidate in the offseason. As much as dealing the three-time Pro Bowler would anger the fanbase, getting multiple first-round picks for him could accelerate the process of building another winner.

For now, the Cowboys have no incentive to entertain any speculation regarding Parsons. Perhaps it will be a different story once the season ends and the front office has to take a hard look at the future.