NFL free agency is in full swing, and the money is flowing—everywhere except in Dallas, it seems, as Micah Parsons has yet to see the kind of payday his 2021 NFL Draft classmates are receiving.
Ja’Marr Chase, Derek Stingley Jr. Extensions Set High Bar for Next Micah Parsons Contract
Gregg Rosenthal, host of the NFL Daily Podcast, took to X to call out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for failing to lock up his star linebacker.
“It should be embarrassing for the Cowboys that the 2022 draft class picks are starting to get their extensions before Parsons,” Rosenthal wrote. “Micah is now the only star 2021 first-rounder without one.” Rosenthal is referring to Derek Stingley Jr.’s three-year, $90 million extension, making him the highest paid cornerback in NFL history.
it should be embarrassing for the Cowboys that the 2022 draft class picks are starting to get their extensions before Parsons.
Micah is now the only star 2021 first rounder without one
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) March 17, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars extended Trevor Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million deal last offseason, Jaylen Waddle signed a three-year, $84.75 million contract with the Miami Dolphins last year and Penei Sewell landed a four-year, $112 million extension from the Detroit Lions. The 2021 1st Round class is seeing the money pour in.
But among all those 2021 cornerstone players, one stands out from the pack. Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension on Sunday night, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
All of this means one thing: with Stingley and Chase setting record-breaking contracts for their positions, the market for non-quarterbacks is inflating fast. The longer Cowboys owner Jerry Jones waits to extend Parsons, the more expensive it’s going to get.
As a hybrid defender who plays both outside linebacker and edge rusher, Parsons’ next contract will likely put him in the same financial range as the top-paid pass rushers:
- T.J. Watt (four years, $112 million)
- Myles Garrett (five years, $125 million
- Maxx Crosby (three years, $106.5 million)
However, Parsons will only be 26 years old entering the 2025 NFL season. With a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and three All-Pro selections already on his résumé, he is on track to reset the market for his position—whether in Dallas or elsewhere.
With America’s Team coming off a down year defensively, allowing 27.5 points per game (second worst in the league in 2024) and ranking 25th in PFSN’s Defense+ rankings, retaining their homegrown defensive star should be the top priority.
The onus is now on Jones to lock up Parsons before he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. If Dallas fails to put together a winning season for the second straight year, Parsons might very well decide to move on.