Cowboys may have handed Rams a masterclass in how to lose a superstar

The Los Angeles Rams roster is running far below the NFL average on the defensive side of the football. But that will change throughout the next several seasons. In 2026, the Rams will need to extend DT Kobie Turner and OLB Byron Young. In 2027, the Rams will need to extend DT Braden Fiske and OLB Jared Verse.

And there will likely be many other defensive stars seeking extensions over the next two seasons.

Contract negotiations do not happen in a single meeting. Nor can a player and an NFL team reach an agreement for one hour. To truly reach a mutual agreement, the team and play must begin communicating weeks, if not months, in advance.

The Rams have been in extension talks with RB Kyren Williams' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, for weeks. So what is taking so long? It's a complex and complicated negotiation, one that must define Williams' role in the offense before compensation can be agreed on. But through it all, the Rams have praised the professionalism and performance of Williams.

Cowboys write playbook of what NOT to do in Rams negotiations

In return, Williams has continued to show up and participate in training camp. If that sounds typical, compare that to the contract negotiations that the Dallas Cowboys have conducted with elite edge rusher Micah Parsons. Of particular note is the way that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tried to dupe Parsons into meeting with him without his NFL agent and tried to hammer out a deal under the deception of team leadership.

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

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025

Jerry Jones' tactics break every bond of trust and the rules of negotiation. Throughout the negotiation process, he:

1. Tried to negotiate with the player without his agent
2. Lured a player into contract negotiations under pretenses
3. Ambushed his player, given an alternative reason to meet
4. Tried to handle negotiations without filing an offer sheet
5. Publicly decried the process and pointed to the risks of injury to other players after a new contract was signed.

Everyone gets it. Both sides are taking risks. It's the skill of the actual contract language that is vital to protect both sides in any NFL player contract. And that language is easily acquired in template form from the most recent contracts executed by other NFL teams with players.

There is little risk to the Rams stumbling into the egregious negotiation errors that the Cowboys employed with elite OLB Micah Parsons. But if the Rams needed a reminder of what NOT to do. Jerry Jones just provided a real-time example.

As always, thanks for reading.