Micah Parsons contract extension: Stephen A. Smith suggests Dallas Cowboys star sit out 2025 season without a new deal

Since entering the NFL via the 2021 Draft out of Penn State, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons has evolved into one of the best defensive players in the league. Over his four years with the Cowboys, Parsons has been named a two-time First Team All-Pro, a one-time Second Team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler. However, he heads into the 2025 season on the final year of his rookie contract.

Standout defensive players around the league, such as New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt, have received lucrative contracts in recent weeks. However, Parsons remains unsigned and would be an unrestricted free agent following this upcoming season if action isn’t taken.

During Thursday morning’s edition of “First Take,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith suggested that Parsons do something drastic. He said Parsons should sit out the season if not extended before Dallas’ season opener.

“Because they have his rights, maybe I’m wrong in suggesting this but I don’t mind being corrected,” Smith started. “I’m of the mindset that if you’re Micah Parsons (and I don’t think it’s gonna come to this so please don’t get me wrong), but in the interest of discussing his contractual business I think he has to be willing to sit out the year. Because I think that’s the only language that Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones at this particular moment is going to understand. This is football. One practice can end your season. A practice can end your season.”

Adam Scheffer reveals the two sides are ‘nowhere close’

“The wrong cut, the wrong hit, the wrong touch. It can end your season and compromise his long term aspirations. Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones, regardless of the brilliance of Adam Schefter articulating a position for all of us football novices out here simplifying it for us the way only he can, the fact is we have history to lean on when it comes to Jerry and Stephen. Because they’ve done this before. It’s not about Micah Parsons… it’s about them. Their M.O. The way that they do business.”

Although there had been some hope that a deal would get done soon, that might not be the case. Schefter shut this down on Thursday morning’s ‘Get Up.’

“That deal is also nowhere close to being done,” Schefter said. “Everybody has a perception that the deal between the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons is gonna get done. Maybe one day it will because negotiations take twists and turns that you don’t expect, but today, Wednesday, July 31st, they are further apart on a deal than they were in late March.”

The Cowboys open their 2025 season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. Whether Parsons suits up or not is still up in the air.