
Cowboys Bad News Coming From Micah Parsons Hints Insider
FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys have had over a year to brace for an eventual Micah Parsons contract extension. It’s that time now and it seems they are in the same place they were last year: nowhere. The Cowboys defensive star has paid his dues with the team and proven his loyalty, specifically last season when he returned from a four-game absence and led the rallying cry for what was otherwise a defeated Dallas team. Pre-free agency, there was one positive sign for a potential deal. Dallas acted quickly to retain defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, ensuring he did not hit the open market. The Cowboys then opened up more salary cap space when they restructured the contracts of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. All those moves gave the feeling that something big could be coming.
However, the major free agency wave has passed with no deal in place. According to Cowboys’ reporter Saad Yousuf of The Athletic, that has made matters more difficult for the team. “If the Cowboys got the extension done with Parsons before free agency, the results of free agency wouldn’t be part of the negotiations,” Yousuf said. “However, free agency came and went. The Cowboys freed up cap space in the days leading into the league’s new year but didn’t use that to sign anybody who would make a significant difference or ease the load off Parsons.” Related: Can Jerry’s Cowboys Win A ‘Culture War’ With Washington? The site adds, “Parsons, who has already been prone to being absent for voluntary offseason activities … could hold out of voluntary and mandatory team activities.” We would add this: That was already going to be in play, regardless of whether Dallas made blockbuster moves at the start of free agency. So we’re not sure that suggesting that Micah will be especially upset by the lack of major moves and will therefore skip OTAs has much validity. Indeed, what if Dallas did sign Micah to a $40 million APY early on – with him assuming that more big deals were on the way – and then nothing happened? Wouldn’t he be just as “especially upset” then? Parsons’ contract extension came with two goals: for him to get his deserved raise and earn
that deal with an upgraded roster around him. The first has not been achieved and through the last few weeks, it is hard to argue that objective has been reached in full. Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby both got major pay days at the start of free agency, meaning the price for Parsons went up. Seeing that and a lackluster campaign to acquire new talent is not ideal for either side. By the end of the offseason, Parsons and the Cowboys will likely have come to terms and this will be a matter of the past. But this sequence of events has not marked the dream offseason that Cowboys Nation or Parsons himself had in mind.
Cowboys Predicted To Go One Specific Route With 12th Overall Pick In NFL Draft
Much has been made of the Dallas Cowboys‘ needs at running back and on a defensive unit that took a step back without defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, who became the Washington Commanders‘ head coach last offseason.
Even offensive line could be a concern following the retirement of long time stalwart and 9 x All-Pro, Zack Martin.
However, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski, as part of his 10 predictions for the draft with less than a month to go, believes that Dallas will instead use their first pick, #12 overall, to get another weapon for Dak Prescott.
“Of the three, wide receiver remains the biggest issue, as it’s been for the last couple of seasons”, Sobleski writes, “CeeDee Lamb is exceptional as a four-time Pro Bowl honoree. He’s also been targeted the most of any wide receiver over the last two seasons because Dallas lacks a legitimate second option to threaten opposing defenses.”
Sobleski considers there to be a specific top receiver that the Cowboys should target, Matthew Golden, for one specific reason.
“Wide receiver can’t wait any longer. Jalen Tolbert showed nice improvement in Year 3. But the Cowboys’ passing attack can be dynamic with Texas’ Matthew Golden.”
“Golden is the most explosive target in this year’s draft. His 4.29-second 40-yard-dash speed shows up on the field, and it’s not limited to running 9-routes. The Houston transfer took over the Longhorns offense this season, with his ability to explode through routes and play much bigger than his 5’11”, 191-pound frame indicates.”
Where Does Receiver Rank Amongst The Cowboys’ Needs?
It certainly is a possibility. Golden fits the profile of the kind of player the Cowboys would want; a speed demon and vertical threat alongside the ever consistent possession receiver, Lamb.
The Cowboys have not had a true deep threat since the days of Michael Gallup, who recently signed with the Washington Commanders.
Dallas are not exactly deprived at receiver behind Lamb, with Tolbert having had a nice third season in the league, accumulating 610 yards and 7 touchdowns, in addition to former Carolina Panther, Jonathan Mingo, whom the Cowboys gave up a fourth rounder for at last November’s trade deadline.
But whilst there is still definitely room for improvement, it probably does not qualify amongst the team’s absolute premier needs.
What Direction Will The Cowboys Go With the 12th Pick?
Impossible to say for sure (or near sure) at this point, but a strong possibility could be at running back, where there could be multiple players worthy of the selection sitting there at #12 – something even Sobleski acknolwedges.
“If running back Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton is available, they’d be enticing. Dallas did sign Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. But the fact that both are operating under one-year, minimal contracts ($4.2 million combined between the two) says everything about how the team views them.”
It is also true that the team may view running back as a too low-value a position to take with such a high pick, particularly for a franchise that normally prioritizes selecting linemen and other high-value positions early on in the draft.
And with a such a rich class at RB, Dallas may believe that despite the talent early on, they may be able to find an excellent, starting-caliber player in the mid rounds, whilst taking a difference maker like Golden early on.