Cowboys Star Predicted to Land $80M Payday Amid Micah Parsons’ Contract Negotiation Struggles

You know the drill. Every offseason, Dallas does this weird dance where they let trade rumors fly before eventually paying their guys. Or shall I say, overpaying them… ahem… Dak Prescott! Currently, they are flirting with Micah Parsons and they can’t just stop doing it. Even CeeDee Lamb called this out himself—“Y’all aren’t tired of this?… Let’s just win some games and that’s with 11. SMH!” He tweeted in frustration at JJ and the Cowboys’ lack of intent to hand Micah the new deal.

And now, guess what? The Most Expensive Franchise in the World will not be directing their money and attention there. It’s Osa Odighizuwa who’s caught in the mix… And if what the reports are saying is true, then he won’t be complaining. But the fans will.

Well, per an X account, it’s projected that he’s expected to land a 4-year, $80 million deal. That’s a $20 million per season payday. Yes! Read that again… Now, let’s be real—Odighizuwa is a beast. He’s coming off a career-high 7-sack season and has been a key part of Dallas’ defensive front. But $20 million a year? That’s top-tier DT money.

For context, Aaron Donald was making around $31 million per season, and Chris Jones just secured $30 million annually with the Chiefs. Odighizuwa isn’t on that level, at least not yet. And here’s where things get tricky. The Cowboys already have Micah Parsons’ contract situation looming.

Parsons is due for a massive deal, probably in the $30M+ per year range. If Dallas commits big money to Odighizuwa, does that mean they might lowball or—worst case—trade Parsons? Sounds ridiculous, but Ian Rapoport did mention on the SB Sunday that the Cowboys had “internal discussions” about the idea.

Then there’s the cap space issue. Committing $80 million to Odighizuwa means fewer resources for other positions. The Cowboys still need to address their offensive line depth, secondary, and wide receiver group. Overpaying for one guy—especially at a position where depth often matters more than one star—could create roster imbalances.

Meanwhile, other teams are sniffing around. The Cardinals, Patriots, Giants, Bengals, and Commanders are reportedly interested. If one of them is willing to overpay, should Dallas just let him walk and use that money elsewhere? After all, the Cowboys have a habit of letting players go, only to regret it later (hello, Byron Jones!).

But let’s not pretend losing Odighizuwa wouldn’t hurt. He’s been a disruptive force inside, and finding an interior pass rusher with his motor isn’t easy. Dallas ranked 16th in the NFL in run defense last season, and losing him could make that problem even worse. If they don’t pay him, do they have a backup plan?

This is classic Cowboys drama. Overpaying for good players while delaying deals for their elite ones. If they lock in Odighizuwa and lose Parsons down the road, fans are going to lose their minds. But if they let Osa walk and can’t replace him, that’s a problem, too. Welcome to the Jerry Jones Circus.

Micah Parsons’ contract: No point delaying the inevitable

Instead of securing elite talent early, Jerry and Stephen Jones play the waiting game—delaying contracts, creating holdout drama, and hoping the numbers somehow work out. Sound familiar? Yeah, because it’s the same cycle they ran with CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and Ezekiel Elliott. Now, Micah Parsons is up next.

Parsons, a generational talent, is heading into the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, set to make just $3 million in 2025. That’s highway robbery compared to Myles Garrett’s $25 million per year. Parsons knows it. The Cowboys know it. Even Jerry Jones knows it. They’ve already had “conversations”—but not negotiations.

Parsons is staying patient for now, saying, “There’s definitely a plan in place, but we’ll just see how everything plays out.” Translation? He’s giving them a chance to do the right thing. But how long before he forces their hand? Holding out isn’t just an option—it might be the only way.

Lamb skipped camp last year and got paid. Prescott played hardball—and got paid. The Cowboys act like waiting saves them money, but history says otherwise. The longer they wait, the more expensive it gets. Prescott’s cap hit ballooned to $55.45 million last year before they finally extended him.

A new deal for Parsons would lower his $21.3 million cap hit in 2025, giving them much-needed flexibility. So, what’s the holdup? If Dallas is serious about contending, they’ll lock Parsons up now. If not? Well, get ready for another drawn-out, unnecessary contract saga. The Cowboys have a choice—pay their best defensive player now or let him walk into 2025 with every reason to test the market. They can’t afford to fumble this. Not with a talent like Parsons.