Micah Parsons' contract talks with the Dallas Cowboys have moved forward in such a way that on Thursday morning, CowboysCountry.com was able to report that the team has recently met with Parsons' representation and that contract proposals have been discussed.
A deal is almost surely on the horizon. And when Parsons signs his massive extension, he will become among the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history.
But ... how high?
Parsons' estimated coming deal? Spotrac puts it at four years and $146.7 million. That's $37 million per year .... and while Micah has insisted he doesn't need to be No. 1 in non-QB salary (that number has now vaulted to $40 million plus) ... we bet if that's the sort of number the Joneses are offering ...
That's the sort of number Parsons' representation is responding to with a "close but no'' answer.
A better guess, maybe, comes from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, who suggests that "the Cowboys and Parsons could do a four-year extension that pays $40.5 million per year in new money.''
That number would inch Parsons above Ja’Marr Chase's new contract in Cincinnati (he set the new non-quarterback bar at $40.25 million per year) and above Myles Garrett's new average of $40 million with the Browns.
Writes Florio: "That’s $162 million. Throw in the $24 million that Parsons is due to make this year, and it’s a five-year, $186 million deal.''
Sounds like a plan.
Also worth noting in Florio's breakdown: Substantial piles of money for workout attendance.
The Cowboys are privately bothered by the fact that Micah "likes to do his own thing'' when it comes to some offseason work. Writes Florio: "To encourage Parsons to show up for the offseason program, the deal would also include significant salary de-escalators ($1 million per year) if he fails to participate.''
Again, this is on the money.
Last season, Parsons battled through injuries but still collected 43 total tackles to go along with 12 sacks (as always), two forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown.
A healthy Micah, who'll turn 26 in May, figures to be an NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate for most of the rest of his career - and surely for the next four years while working under the terms of this inevitable new contract.
The Cowboys know all of this. So does Parsons.
Florio adds, "It would not be difficult to do a deal for Parsons. A deal in principle could be done in an hour or less.''
We're not sure about the "easy'' part. But we are sure that Cowboys Nation will "breathe easy'' once this thing is a done deal.
