Parsons Will Soon Be a Free Agent, but He Wants to Stay a Cowboy

Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after sacking Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 15. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

While Dallas Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons is focused on the Philadelphia Eagles for Week 16, he has one hope in mind for his future with the team.

“I’m going to try and work with them as much as possible to help them attack free agency,” Parsons told reporters on Thursday. “I want to be back with this team. This offseason, I want to be here. I want to get these guys right. I want to take big steps, so hopefully it can be done sooner than later so we can attack the offseason.”

“I can’t go up to [executive vice president Stephen Jones] and say, ‘I want to get paid here,’” Parsons later added. “But our door’s open. My people know that.”

That all comes on the heels of trade speculation, which owner Jerry Jones shut down earlier in the week. A three-time All-Pro, Parsons is in the final year of his four-year, $17 million rookie deal, and he could command one of the league’s biggest salaries for linebackers. Spotrac projects his free agent market value at $29 million annually, which would be a major cost to the Cowboys (6–8).

“I think I’m the best player in the world. I don’t throw numbers out there like that,” Parsons said. “I'll see what they’re willing to give me.”

Dallas already awarded massive contracts to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott this year. It’s a challenge for the Cowboys to keep Parsons amid the salary cap, but the star power is a draw for Parsons to stay.

“It would be nice to be surrounded by good players,” Parsons said. “Players that will help me win championships, I'll say that. To me, having $40 million and being chipped every play and slid into three, four people, that doesn’t sound too fun to me.

“So to me, it’s about keeping people that can make a difference,” Parsons added. “We'll see how it breaks down, but I want to keep as many guys as possible. They will make the cap work, I don’t know.”

Dallas has a projected $19.89 million to work with in 2025 for salary cap space, and the Cowboys have more players than just Parsons to re-sign, a list that could command substantial cap room. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks averages $19.99 million on his current deal, guard Zack Martin makes $18.42 million annually, and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence earns $13.33 million per season.

For now, Parsons wants to beat the Eagles (12–2) and avoid the season sweep, whether or not it leads to a playoff berth later. The Cowboys need the Washington Commanders (9–5) to lose all remaining games in order to have a shot at making the playoffs.

“Even if we got eliminated, like, I gotta crush Philly,” Parsons said.

The Eagles beat the Cowboys 34–6 in their first meeting this season.