A defensive end? Parsons asks Cowboys for trade

OXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons has made a request to be traded.

Parsons took to social media Friday to make the announcement and went through his version of events that led to his decision to want to move away from the franchise he grew up adoring and that drafted him in the first round in 2021.

"Yes, I wanted to be here," Parsons wrote. "I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet. I wanted to play in front of the best fans in sports and make this Americas team once again. The team my pops and I grew up cheering for way up in Harrisburg, PA.

"Unfortunately I no longer want to be here. I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me. I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done."

Thank you Dallas 🦁👑 🙏🏾! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025

Both sides acknowledge there have not been discussions regarding a contract extension. Parsons is set to make $21.324 million this season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal as a defensive end, not the reported $24.007 million that he would make if he was a linebacker.

The team had no comment on Parsons' request. The Cowboys can hold his rights through 2028 with the use of the franchise tag, however, the last year of the tag would cost them the quarterback tag figure.

The relationship between Parsons and the Cowboys has worsened in the past four months in part because owner and general manager Jerry Jones was of the belief that the sides were close to an agreement on an extension that would have made Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, per multiple sources.

Parsons said his agent, David Mulugheta, approached the Cowboys prior to last year about a contract extension but the team's focus was on Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who became the highest-paid quarterback and the second-highest-paid wide receiver, respectively.

When the 2024 season ended, Parsons said he told Mulugheta to tell the team they were ready to negotiate.

"My agent informed me I should wait for other deals to get done because the price would only go up but I didn't care and wanted to secure myself as a Cowboy long term," Parsons wrote.

While in Abu Dhabi, Parsons called Jones and requested a meeting. Parsons wrote on social media it was about, "leadership," but "somehow the conversation turned into him talking contract with me."

Parsons admitted he had a back-and-forth with Jones, who later at the NFL owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, said they came to an agreement on the length, total money and guaranteed portion of the deal.

Since that meeting, pass rushers Myles Garrett (four years, $160 million), Maxx Crosby (three years, $106.5 million) and T.J. Watt (three years, $123 million) have signed extensions, with Watt becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback at $41 million per season.

Historically, Jones has worked directly with key players on contracts. Two years ago, a direct conversation with Zack Martin led to the All-Pro guard ending a holdout and signing a two-year extension that paid him more money.

Parsons said he told Jones that Mulugheta would call the Cowboys but that when the agent reached out, the team felt a deal was already done.

"My agent of course told him that wasn't the case and also reached out to [executive vice president] Stephen Jones," Parsons wrote. "Again the team decided to go silent. At that point we decided we would allow the team to reach out to us whenever they wanted to talk. Yet still not a call email or text to my agent about starting a negotiation."

At the opening news conference of camp, Stephen Jones acknowledged he had not had discussions with Mulugheta.

Parsons reported to training camp on time, but he has been going through a hold-in. After the first practice, he said he had some back tightness and said he would do more as his back felt better. He has not been receiving treatment, but he has been involved in meetings, working out and attending practice.

Jerry Jones raised eyebrows at the start of camp when he said, "Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him. He was hurt six games last year [actually four]. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year in Dak Prescott. So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money."

As he addressed fans Saturday before practice, Jones was heckled by fans that yelled "Pay Micah!"

"I heard it light, but not compared to how I heard them say, 'Pay Lamb [last year],'" Jones said a day later of the negotiations from last year. "That was a faint little sound compared to the way they were hollering last year, 'Pay Lamb.' ... Whoever's not in, you can count on a few hollering that. But it was a big loud chant last year on Lamb."

Earlier in the day, Stephen Jones was asked about the fans yelling and said, "It doesn't change anything. We want to pay Micah, too. He's got to want to be paid, too."

Parsons wrote Friday that "after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally."

Cowboys teammates took to social media to support Parsons. At least three teammates, Trevon Diggs, DeMarvion Overshown and Juanyeh Thomas, changed their avatars to include a picture of Parsons. Lamb, who went through a protracted negotiation last summer, went to X.

"Never fails dawg. Just pay the man, what you owe em. No need for the extra curricular."