Dallas Cowboys make Jake Ferguson highest-paid tight end in franchise history
Tight end Jake Ferguson and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $52 million extension with $30 million guaranteed. This deal makes Ferguson the highest-paid tight end in Cowboys history.
Dallas drafted Ferguson in the fourth round, No. 129 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He started eight games as a rookie and took on a larger role in his second season.
In 2023, Ferguson set career-highs in catches (71), receiving yards (761) and receiving touchdowns (five) and made his first Pro Bowl.
He was held scoreless in 2024 as the Cowboys offense struggled without franchise quarterback Dak Prescott in the lineup for much of the season.
Ferguson may be the highest-paid tight end in Cowboys history, but this deal makes him the seventh-highest-paid tight end in the league by average annual value (AAV). Per OverTheCap, Ferguson slots in behind Cleveland's David Njoku ($13.68 million AAV) and ahead of Chicago's Cole Kmet ($12.5 million).
Ferguson was entering the final year of his rookie deal prior to this extension. The Cowboys state this extension will free up $1.8 million in salary cap space for 2025.
Jake Ferguson stats
Ferguson assumed a larger role in the Cowboys' offense in 2023 following Dalton Schultz's departure. Here's a look at his stats year-over-year:
Micah Parsons contract latest
Cowboys fans are hoping the team's top young star gets an extension done soon as well in edge rusher Micah Parsons. They voiced their displeasure during Dallas' "Opening Day Ceremony" at training camp, shouting "Pay Micah!" to owner Jerry Jones as he took the stage to address the crowd.
Like Ferguson before his extension, Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He's been one of the best defenders in the league since his rookie season in 2021 and has been at least a second-team All-Pro in three of his first four seasons.
Parsons has reported to training camp but previously spoke about his frustration with the negotiations.
He stated his representation tried to get an extension done last offseason but the franchise said they were focusing on deals for Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb instead.
Dallas hasn't come together on a deal since the end of the 2024 season. This comes while other top edge rushers like Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt all signed long-term deals.
"I will never understand it," Parsons said on former WWE wrestler The Undertaker's podcast, Six Feet Under. "We wanted to do the contract last year – then you go out there and perform again. You would think, 'Alright, we'll get it done early, we know some guys are about to get re-paid.' There's Myles [Garrett], Maxx [Crosby] is going, so you would think, 'Hey, let's get ahead of that.'
"You can't want us to take less (now) because you're the one that decided to wait."
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