There is no arguing against the fact that the Dallas Cowboys are completely to blame for this week's shocking Micah Parsons trade request. Any casual fan or league pundit could've told you the move was to pay Parsons a year ago. Choosing to wait out the contract made sure the market would be continually reset. T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett both stand out as recent examples of this fact.
The Cowboys continue to run the team as poorly as possible, avoiding bargains and waiting to pay star players until the price reaches an ultimate high.
Franchise owner Jerry Jones deserves every bit of heat coming his way for helping devolve the situation. Jones infamously called out Parsons' agent earlier in the offseason, claiming he "didn't know his name."
Regardless of whether or not this is true, it isn't something you can say about the best player on your roster. As a franchise owner, one might argue it is slightly important to know the contacts of your most talented player. All of this added up to Parsons posting a lengthy explanation of his trade request and saying goodbye to the Cowboys.
Thank you Dallas 🦁👑 🙏🏾! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025
Cowboys Can't Afford to Give in to Micah Parsons' Demands
Despite Parsons' intent to find a new landing spot, under no circumstances can the Cowboys afford to give in. This is a power play that Dallas has set itself up for by paying CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, while ignoring Parsons. The star defender understandably wants the security that a new contract brings.
The franchise player cannot be dealt when you're already facing an uphill battle. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders spent the offseason improving already great rosters.
Hated division rivals have confidence they can beat Dallas and that this is a two-team race. Any hope of this being false will walk out the door with Parsons. The salary cap situation remains tight, but the Cowboys can pay the pass rusher and make it work in future seasons. No other possible move on the board can be entertained. Forcing Parsons to hold out and refusing to trade the star or offer an extension is a bad look for both sides. It is the unneeded drama that the franchise so often stumbles over.
The only move left for Dallas is one the franchise should've made long ago, signing its star player to an extension deserving of his talent. Parsons has every right to feel offended and upset with how the organization has handled the situation. Still, the reality is the Cowboys hold all the cards here, having a year of control remaining and plenty of time to figure out how to get a deal done.
For Dallas, extending the veteran quickly isn't just about it being the correct move, but saving face in what has been an incredibly messy situation. One that will continue to dominate league headlines as long as Parsons remains understandably unhappy.