Will the Cowboys lock their Juan Soto or let him walk away? If you noticed, for some time, there were trade rumors circling around the consensus best pick from the 2021 draft– Micah Parsons. And certainly, he did not disappoint. Becoming part of America’s Team, he proved that he is a lot to handle for any offense even if they create new strategies every week– 52.5 career sacks already? This makes him the fastest to reach that mark in four years. While the trade rumors have shushed, when the time came for the team to reciprocate, did they?

Remember when Micah Parsons went full defense mode for Jerry Jones when he called the Cowboys’ owner his “Dawg” and told fans to stop the hate back in February? “I never met a man that takes better care of his players,” Parsons said. Fast forward to now, and Parsons might not be barking up the same tree.

The Cowboys are dragging their feet on a new $40 million contract, and while Parsons is keeping things cool in public, the silence from the front office is getting louder. The latest update?

At his charity event, Pins for a Purpose, The Athletic’s Jon Machota asked Parsons if not having a deal yet troubles him. His simple reply was a quick, “NO!” As per Machota, when he was about to continue, a Cowboys staffer shut it down. Convenient timing, right?

Last season, Parson’s base salary was $2.989 million with his fifth-year option reaching $24.07 million. But it is still no $40 million that he is eyeing now. See, Dallas could have locked him at a much lower price last year. But they waited. And they’re clearly doing the same now.

Dallas is in no rush to lock up its defensive superstar, even though the market for elite pass rushers keeps skyrocketing. Meanwhile, Parsons is left playing the waiting game, all while the Cowboys navigate a surprisingly quiet offseason. Where’s the usual drama? Jerry Jones must be scheming in the shadows, or maybe—just maybe—Dallas is trying to play hardball.

But how smart is that move? Parsons isn’t just any player. He’s the heart of this defense; the player that offenses have to game-plan around every single week. And let’s not forget—he’s watching Nick Bosa’s $34M per year and Maxx Crosby’s $35M per year massive checks.

The Cowboys know they have to pay up—it’s just a matter of when. And the longer they drag their feet, the more expensive it’s going to get. One thing’s for sure: Micah Parsons isn’t leaving Dallas without securing the big bag.

When he hopped on The Zach Gelb Show, Zach asked Parsons point-blank about the trade rumors: “So, there’s no trade request coming from you? I know people saw Myles Garrett’s request the other day and started wondering if Micah might follow suit.”

Parsons didn’t dance around it. “No, I don’t plan on following suit as long as, you know, I get a deal done. I think I’ll be pretty happy,” he said. Simple. Direct. But what about the Cowboys’ loyalty?

Right now, he’s saying all the right things—or at least, what the Cowboys’ PR team will let him say. But patience isn’t infinite. He’s already making it clear what he wants.

Micah Parsons doesn’t want to keep a straight face anymore

Micah Parsons isn’t here to do the Cowboys any financial favors. If Jerry Jones wants to keep one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL, he better have his checkbook ready. Parsons made it crystal clear—he’s not in the mood for discounts. “I just played these last couple years on $2 (million) and $3 million. I think if I had $40 million, I’d be the happiest man alive. You go from playing for the league rookie minimum and get that big of a jump, I think anybody would be happy,” he said.

Can you blame him? After playing on rookie contracts, that kind of payday isn’t just life-changing—it’s overdue.

Now, with Myles Garrett and Ja’Marr Chase setting the non-quarterback market at $40 million per year, Parsons knows where he stands. One of the most dominant defensive players in the league has been playing on a contract that barely scratches the surface of his worth. And somehow, the Cowboys have let this drag on this long? Woah.

While the JJ front office has had a year to plan this deal, we’re still here. Why? Maybe he thinks Parsons will settle for less. Maybe he thinks he can play the waiting game. Either way, that strategy rarely works when you’re dealing with a generational talent.

Parsons, for his part, isn’t panicking. He’s not threatening a holdout. He’s not making a scene. But don’t mistake his patience for complacency. “It’s coming along well,” he said, keeping things diplomatic. Translation? He expects to get paid, and he’s not sweating it. He knows his worth. The Cowboys do too (or do they?). The only thing missing is a pen and a dotted line.

Meanwhile, look at these numbers… Garrett’s pulling in $40 million a year, Maxx Crosby’s at $35.5 million, and even Brian Burns cashed in with the Giants at $28.2 million last March. But Parsons? He is still waiting. Watching names he’s outperformed get paid big. If Dallas drags this out, they’re playing with fire. This isn’t just their best defender—it’s the player holding that defense together.

And let’s be real, the Cowboys don’t have the luxury of messing this up. Their recent playoff runs have been, well… let’s just say forgettable. Losing Parsons over money? That’s the kind of move that the fans talk about for years.

So, what’s next? The Cowboys have the cap space. They have the motivation. Parsons has the leverage. This deal will get done. The only question left is the one Cowboys fans are tired of asking: When?