Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons requests trade amid stalled contract negotiations

The Dallas Cowboys kicked off training camp last week, and while Micah Parsons was present, the Pro Bowl edge rusher stayed on the sidelines as he awaited a new contract.

Given how things played out last year, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb sealing their deals just before the season, many figured Parsons' extension would come down to the wire too. But things took a dramatic turn on Friday.

Parsons dropped a bombshell on social media, announcing his desire to move on from Dallas: "I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys," he wrote. "My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally."

The post sent shockwaves across Cowboys Nation and could mark the beginning of a major shake-up in Big D.

Just hours before Micah Parsons dropped his trade bombshell on Friday, The Athletic published a revealing report outlining the growing tension between the star pass rusher and the Cowboys. According to the report, the relationship between Parsons and the franchise has "deteriorated to the point" where he's "considering drastic measures, which could include a trade request or even a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team."

Apparently, the Cowboys thought they were on the verge of locking down an extension with Parsons earlier this year, especially after he had engaged directly with team owner Jerry Jones in contract discussions. But what Dallas saw as serious negotiations, Parsons viewed as more informal chatter. That led him to bring in his agent to handle further talks, only for Jones to reportedly refuse to engage with the agent. The breakdown in communication has left the two camps "far apart" on contract terms.

Parsons, whose rookie deal runs through the 2025 season, has been at the Cowboys' facility throughout training camp, but he's yet to take a rep as he waits for clarity on his future.

In terms of potential contract comparisons, recent deals signed by Myles Garrett (four years, $160 million with the Browns) and T.J. Watt (three years, $123 million with the Steelers) have reshaped the pass-rusher market. Parsons, viewed by many as one of the league's premier defenders, is clearly looking to be paid in the same elite bracket.

Micah Parsons put together another stellar campaign in 2024, racking up 12.0 sacks, forcing a pair of fumbles, and tallying 43 total tackles across 13 regular-season outings despite missing a month of action with an ankle injury. The dominant edge rusher has now notched 12 or more sacks in each of his four NFL seasons, earning All-Pro honors twice and being named to the Pro Bowl four times.

The Cowboys are no strangers to drawn-out contract drama. Just last offseason, both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were in lengthy negotiations with the front office. Lamb eventually put pen to paper on a four-year, $136 million extension shortly after the team wrapped its 2024 preseason slate, while Prescott’s massive four-year, $240 million deal was sealed hours before kickoff in Week 1.

If Parsons decides to hold out, he faces potential fines of $50,000 per day for missing training camp, though, since he's still on his rookie contract, the Cowboys could choose to waive those penalties. It's a scenario not unlike CeeDee Lamb's standoff last year, which eventually ended in a deal getting done.

That said, this situation feels different. Jerry Jones has a long track record of locking in the stars he wants to build around, he's never let a cornerstone walk. But with Parsons formally requesting a trade, he's taken things further than any Cowboys superstar before him. The ball is now firmly in Dallas' court.

Looking ahead, Dallas kicks off its 2025 preseason schedule on August 9 with a trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams. Then comes a blockbuster regular-season opener on September 4, as the Cowboys square off with the reigning Super Bowl champion and division rival Philadelphia Eagles in a prime-time NFC East clash.