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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dallas Cowboys make Jake Ferguson highest-paid tight end in franchise history
Dallas Cowboys training camp kicked off just one day ago in southern California. As the team prepares for its first year under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the franchise signed one of its top young players for the future. 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."
Miami Herald
22-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
No big deal, but Jerry Jones thanks Micah Parsons for reporting to Cowboys camp
As Micah Parsons' contract negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys have stretched into a second year, neither side has been quiet on the topic. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made the latest public comment in the ongoing saga Monday, and this one might lead to some head-scratching. "Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're gonna have him," Jones told reporters Monday. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously." Parsons missed four games last season, not six, with a high left ankle sprain. It was the first time he missed games due to injury in his NFL career. The 26-year-old has 52.5 sacks in four seasons and is in line to earn approximately $24 million in 2025 on the fifth-year option from his original rookie deal. He is reportedly seeking a record-setting $200 million contract before he takes the field for another game. Parsons, a two-time All-Pro pick with 12 sacks or more in each of his first four seasons, opted to join the team at training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Monday amid the ongoing negotiations, which Jones acknowledged Monday. "Leadership is really big. I'm appreciative of Micah being here, I am," Jones said. "I'm big into showing anything you can do for leadership if you're gonna be in the top drawer of all the money." Parsons, to be certain, is headed for that top drawer. New additions to the highest rung on the pass rusher pay scale were made in recent days while Parsons openly pondered why Jones was "overcomplicating" the contract standoff. Instead of signing Parsons to a contract extension at the end of last season or earlier in the offseason at a rate of approximately $35 million per year, the Cowboys held off in a tactic Jones continued to defend on Monday. Meanwhile, the Steelers caved to demands of 31-year-old T.J. Watt last week, when he became the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL at an average of $41 million per season. That's $1 million better than Myles Garrett, 30, achieved in his contract extension with the Browns in March. Later on Monday, Parsons shared an X post by Watt's brother J.J. Watt that appeared to take a shot at Jones' comments about Parsons' missed games. "Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it... Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you," J.J. Watt wrote. In a recent conversation on the "Six Feet Under" podcast, Parsons pointed to Jones as the one with the power to determine just how quickly peace is restored. "We obviously wanted to get done early. We want that relief off our backs. But, obviously, ownership is always gonna make it drag out -- make it more complicated than it has to be. Lack of communication and that standpoint," Parsons said on the podcast. Jones said he wants Parsons involved in training camp and to "be a leader" as head coach Brian Schottenheimer allowed for the possibility his star defender would conduct a "hold-in," meaning he's physically present at camp but only as a non-participant to avoid injury risks. Executive vice president Stephen Jones hinted that the Cowboys would encourage players in Parsons' position to "bet on himself," even if recent history reveals the franchise jumped to get holdouts signed before the start of the regular season. Most recently, the scenario played out one year ago with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and, before that, freshly retired Zack Martin. "Obviously, when you're all here together at camp, it makes for a good environment to try and get some things done before the season starts," Stephen Jones said. "At the end of the day, it does take two. A lot of times, you might be surprised where we might be and where they might've been, where they were wanting to hold. And most players do understand if you're willing to take risks, if you're willing to go out on the field and do your contract, and you play well and bet on yourself, usually, it'll happen in a positive way for the player. They understand that." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones Makes Odd Micah Parsons Statement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for training camp in Oxnard, California, Jerry Jones held his annual pre-camp press conference before Dallas officially kicks things off. As expected, Jones was asked about his star edge rusher, Micah Parsons. The franchise owner suggested he hasn't spoken directly with Parsons' agent lately regarding the terms of a new contract. "I've talked to people that have talked to him, let's put it like that," Jones told reporters on Monday. "I don't necessarily talk to these agents, or I don't necessarily talk to attorneys. I do stuff everywhere, and I don't necessarily talk to the people that are hired to do certain things. I talk to the principals 90 percent of the time." #Cowboys Owner/GM Jerry Jones when asked (by @jonmachota) if he had spoken to David Mulugheta about Micah Parsons' contract: 'I've talked with people that have talked to him let's put it like that.' (🎥: @dallascowboys) — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) July 21, 2025 Jones would later shock the crowd as he took an apparent shot at Parsons' lack of availability later in the press conference. "Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said, via CBS Sports. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously! I remember signing a player to the highest-paid player at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year. Dak Prescott. So, there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about commitment, guarantee, and money." ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Arlington, the comment came off as odd publicly, it doesn't change the fact that the Cowboys are interested in locking in Parsons long-term. And although Parsons recently expressed his frustration with the lack of urgency to get a deal done, he's made it clear with his words and his actions that he wants to be in Dallas long-term. "We obviously wanted to get it done early. We wanted that relief off our backs, but obviously, ownership is always going to make it drag out," Parsons recently said on 'Six Feet Under' with Mark Calaway. "Make it more complicated than it has to be. A lack of communication. I always say, 'God has me this far. He ain't done with me yet.' I just keep working, keep going. When it comes, I'm going to be ready. There ain't going to be no dropoff." As several star pass rushers across the league earn their major extensions this offseason, it's only a matter of time before Parsons gets his. All of the buildup might lead to frustration, but Parsons hasn't reached a point where he's going to force the team's hand right now. The veteran is expected to be present at training camp in California this week. For more Dallas Cowboys and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Micah Parsons questions contract standoff with Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons doesn't know why his contract extension is taking so long to negotiate, either. In an appearance on former WWE wrestler The Undertaker's podcast, Six Feet Under, Parsons said he didn't understand the reason for the delays in getting an extension done. The four-time Pro Bowler is set to enter his fifth season playing on the fifth-year option year of his original rookie contract, meaning he's been eligible to sign an extension since last offseason. "Obviously, ownership's always going to make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be, lack of communication, that standpoint," the two-time All-Pro said. NFL CONTRACT UPDATES: Latest news on Micah Parsons, Lamar Jackson, T.J. Watt extensions Parsons said that he and his team were rebuffed last year as they tried to get an extension done early. Instead, the Cowboys told them the focus was on reaching extensions with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. (Prescott and Lamb eventually signed respective four-year extensions within two weeks of each other prior to the start of the 2024 regular season.) Then as the post-2024 offseason began, the Cowboys continued to wait on reaching a deal with Parsons. Meanwhile, Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a huge extension. Then, Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns reached a megadeal of their own. "I will never understand it," Parsons said. "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." As other teams decide on similar situations with their star edge rushers – the Steelers with T.J. Watt; the Bengals with Trey Hendrickson – the Cowboys have a chance to get a deal done with Parsons before those players' deals further inflate the edge-rusher market. For now, all Parsons can do is wait for his big payday, whenever it comes and wherever it comes from.
NBC Sports
17-07-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Micah Parsons: Cowboys are making contract more complicated than it has to be
When it comes to handling their best young players, the Cowboys are cheap, short-sighted, and not as smart as they think they are. I said that last year (repeatedly), when they were starting to drag their fee as to quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. This year, as the Cowboys continue to drag their feet regarding linebacker Micah Parsons, it's even more clear. Appearing The Undertaker on the Six Feet Under podcast, Parsons made it clear that he wanted to get his contract done by now — and that it's the team's fault that the deal hasn't been done. 'We obviously wanted to get done early,' Parsons said. 'We want that relief off our backs. But, obviously, ownership is always gonna make it drag out, make it more complicated than it has to be. Lack of communication and that standpoint, but, you know, I just always say, God has me this far, he ain't done with me yet, so, you know, I just just keep working, keep going, and then when it comes, I'm gonna be ready. But, you know, ain't gonna be no drop off.' The fact that Parsons specifically said there will be no drop off makes us wonder whether the Cowboys have expressed concern that, once Parsons joins the $40 million per year club, he may have a dip in his play. Regardless, the longer the team waits, the more expensive it will be. 'We wanted to do the contract last year,' Parsons said. 'They were just kind of like, 'We want to do Dak and CeeDee.' Then you go out there and perform again and, you know, you would think, like, alright, we'll get it done early. We know there's some guys that's about to get ready to get repaid, like Myles [Garrett], you know, Max [Crosby] is gone. So you'd think like, hey, let's get ahead of that, you know what I mean?' The Crosby deal and then the Garrett deal pushed the market higher and higher. And the clock is ticking louder and louder. Parsons should not show up until he gets his contract. If he does, he absolutely should not set foot on the practice field. Eventually, he'll get paid. And the Cowboys will end up paying Parsons a lot more than they would have paid if they'd done it earlier this year or, even better, last year.
