Free agency is normally the most exciting event on the NFL offseason calendar but it's been a major bore for the Dallas Cowboys going back over a decade.
Fresh off making his fourth straight Pro Bowl, Micah Parsons is doing everything in his power to help buck that trend.
Parsons has called on Jerry Jones to be more active in free agency and has stated a desire to sign an extension as soon as possible to give the team ample breathing room before the frenzy. Parsons has even said he would take a discount to help ownership spend. Extending Parsons would free up more than $18 million in cap room.
Well, the Cowboys have reportedly initiated the negotiation process with Parsons. Don't go thinking an agreement is around the corner, but the wheels are in motion seemingly thanks to Parsons' urgency.
While Parsons has not identified specific players he wants the team to sign, he could put his recruiting chops to the test after one of his good friends in the league got released.
Micah Parsons can help the Cowboys sign former Eagles CB Darius Slay
The Eagles are reportedly planning to release Darius Slay. If Slay is designated as a post-June 1 release, Philadelphia will save $4.3 million against the cap.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2025Eagles are releasing six-time Pro-Bowl CB Darius Slay, per sources.
If he is designated a post-June 1 release, the Eagles will save $4.3 million against the cap. pic.twitter.com/tUq4ScIK79
Let's make one thing clear: the Cowboys should not be champing at the bit to sign a 34-year-old cornerback. If the price is right, though, Slay would be a nice short-term addition to a cornerback room that is very much in flux.
DaRon Bland is the only healthy returning starter on the roster. Trevon Diggs could miss several games next season following offseason knee surgery and Josh Butler (knee) and Caelen Carson (shoulder) are recovering from their own season-ending injuries. Oh, and Jourdan Lewis, arguably the secondary's most important player, is an impending free agent.
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While drafting a cornerback early is definitely in the cards, so should signing a veteran. It just so happens that Slay has made multiple appearances on Parsons' podcast with Bleacher Report, The Edge with Micah Parsons.
While aging, Slay is still a serviceable player. His 12 pass breakups last season were the fourth-most among CBs who played at least 400 coverage snaps, per PFF. His 78.3 passer rating allowed when targeted was 14th-best and he was only responsible for two touchdowns.
The six-time Pro Bowler is far from a lockdown corner at this stage of his career, but he can still play meaningful snaps for a good team. For the Cowboys, he would plug a significant hole at CB2.
Diggs' injury is one thing, but Carson really struggled after a hot start as a rookie and Butler could land on the PUP list to start training camp given his ACL tear happened late in the season.
The idea of signing a near-35-year-old cornerback is risky and there are other intriguing cornerbacks expected to hit the market. Slay also just won a Super Bowl with Philly and is adored by their fans. Might that factor into his decision?
There are reasons to proceed with caution, but it is fun to wonder if Parsons threw Slay's name in Jerry Jones' hat.
