OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys are used to contract disputes with their top players entering training camp. It was star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last year and All-Pro right guard Zack Martin the year before. This year, the Cowboys arrive in California and Micah Parsons is still looking for a new deal.
The difference this time is that Parsons isn’t staying home. Lamb and Martin didn’t report to training camp while holding out for new contracts. Both eventually got what they wanted financially but it came at the cost of missing valuable training camp reps.
Parsons, who is entering the fifth and final year on his rookie contract, is in Oxnard, owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed Monday.
Jerry Jones on Micah Parsons: “Leadership is really big. I’m appreciative of Micah being here.”
Jones says there’s no disappointment that a deal is not done. “We’re here with everybody under contract.” pic.twitter.com/U5WEgpyObF
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 21, 2025
Parsons said during minicamp week on June 10 that he would be in Oxnard for the start of camp even if a new contract isn’t done. However, he didn’t say if he’ll be on the field practicing.
During a recent appearance on the Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway podcast, Parsons said he will “for sure” be at camp even if a new contract isn’t signed when the team arrives. The Cowboys are scheduled to have their first practice on Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. PT.
“The money itself is going to be there,” Parsons told Calaway. “To me, I want to win a Super Bowl. And I know for us to win the Super Bowl, I need to bond with these guys and be around these guys. There’s just so much more that goes into a leadership aspect. I just feel like it’s my year to be a leader. And I don’t want my first year to be a leader and I’m gone for three or four months, I’m gone for weeks at a time or I’m not present. I want to be as present as possible.
“The guys understand the contract situation. Everyone knows about that stuff. But I just want to be there. I need to jell with these guys. I need to build this camaraderie so we can win a Super Bowl.”
Parsons said it was difficult for Lamb after he missed the first month of camp last season, adding: “I don’t want that for myself.”
After not participating in voluntary organized team activities at The Star, Parsons was in attendance for all of mandatory minicamp. While he attempted to not participate in the drills, it was clearly difficult for him to stand by and watch. One practice started with him just trying to help teammates as another coach, but quickly turned into him snapping the ball during pass-rush drills and eventually grabbing his helmet and competing in the drills.
It was interesting to hear Parsons mention leadership during the podcast because that’s the area Jones most wants to see improvement from his star pass rusher. It’s difficult to argue with Parsons’ production on the field. Over the last four seasons, he has 330 quarterback pressures and 52 1/2 sacks, both top five in the NFL.
Jones said at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., earlier this year that he had not spoken with Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta at the time — and that he didn’t even know his name. He said Monday that he still hasn’t spoken with him.
#Cowboys Owner/GM Jerry Jones when asked (by @jonmachota) if he had spoken to David Mulugheta about Micah Parsons’ contract:
“I’ve talked with people that have talked to him let’s put it like that.”
(🎥: @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/psU4rjD0KO
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) July 21, 2025
Parsons said he wanted a new deal entering the start of last season, but the Cowboys were focused on getting contracts done with Lamb and franchise quarterback Dak Prescott. Waiting has only caused the price tag to increase.
“That’s when it was at $35 (million) a year for the highest-paid (non-quarterback),” Parsons said. “Then you go out there and perform again. You would think that we would get it done early. We know there are some guys that are ready to get repaid. Myles (Garrett) and Maxx (Crosby signed new deals), so you would think, ‘Let’s get ahead of that.’ A hundred percent last year, we would’ve been perfectly fine (at $36 million to $37 million per year).”
The market changed again last week when the Pittsburgh Steelers and star pass rusher T.J. Watt agreed to a three-year, $123 million extension. Watt’s $41 million per year average is now the highest among non-quarterbacks. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is next at $40.25 million, followed by Garrett at $40 million.
(Photo: Timothy Nwachukwu / Getty Images)