The Price For Micah Parsons
August 4th, 2025
“Oh, Jerry Jones! You’re giving me heartburn with that price.”
Since superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons threw a hissy fit and demanded a trade from the Cowboys over a contract hassle with Jerry Jones, a lot of fans commenting on this here corner of the interwebs sure became hungry for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to trade for Parsons.
Just looking at the possible ransom, Joe is sure Licht hasn’t even texted Jones for parameters of a potential deal.
Follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN decided to look at what Jones may want — provided he’s had enough Johnny Walker Blues in him to be that foolish.
Let’s just say precendent shows the price for Parsons would be exorbitant.
Two first-round picks and more: Edge Micah Parsons. With him still waiting for his long-term contract extension, the price to procure his signature is only going up after Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt signed their own extensions. The baseline for a Parsons deal a year ago would have been Nick Bosa’s extension, which is worth $34 million per year. Now, Watt’s deal is up to an average annual value (AAV) of $41 million. Parsons is going to get a record-setting deal when he signs.
I expect that to occur with the Cowboys before Week 1, but if they did decide they couldn’t justify paying three players market-setting deals at the league’s three most expensive positions, he would attract a massive trade haul. The closest comp is Khalil Mack, who in 2018 was traded before his fifth season with a second-round pick for two first-round picks, a third-rounder and a sixth-rounder.
Licht likes his draft picks and given Licht’s draft savvy, parting with two first-round picks might be over the top. That call would likely then have to come from Team Glazer.
And then there’s the salary. Some $41 million, and likely more? That’s a big bite. But good players cost.
As ridiculous as the following sounds, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are overly motivated to get Parsons. Yes, of course, they need an edge rush. Even a dude walking around with a white cane can see that.
However, Joe isn’t sure the Bucs’ coaching staff sees this. Joe is still not convinced the Bucs’ defensive coordinator is sold on the value of sacks from an edge rush. So giving up an arm and a leg for a player whose biggest strength may not be used properly seems like a terrible transaction.
Yes, the Bucs signed Haason Reddick. And for that reason alone, Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs are motivated to give blood to land Parsons.
August 4th, 2025 at 5:09 am
It’s nice to dream, but the cost would be too great.
August 4th, 2025 at 5:12 am
In 1993, the NFL rules were different, but the Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith held out until the Cowboys began the season 0-2 after a Super Bowl winning season.
J Jones made a deal with Smith then and if Cowboys start this year 0-2 without Parsons, especially if one of those losses is to the Giants, Jones will sign Parsons.
August 4th, 2025 at 5:51 am
Jerra isn’t going to let Parsons go. This show is all about negotiations with the Cowpokes.
August 4th, 2025 at 6:46 am
didn’t he take a wee tad bit of a step back last year…
just a bit…but still a dominant player league wide…
i’d be shocked if he landed here…we usually don’t go after big bank or “max deal” type players…we try to get a deal, or find a reclamation project…that can restart his career, and stuff like that – in order to not strap the cap…
just sayin’
August 4th, 2025 at 6:50 am
Sorry Joe but I doubt Jason mortgages the farm for Parsons. Just now getting out of the red from Brady. He would look good in a Buc uni and it would be nice to screw Jerry…really nice.
Go Bucs!
August 4th, 2025 at 6:53 am
If we were to trade for him that would mean we wouldn’t be able to have our draft party at the stadium for at the next year.☹️ Probably two because yeah you’re probably gonna have to give up two 1st rounders. What about the draft party then?☹️ Maybe they can have it for day two.😁 Parsons YOU’RE GONNA SCREW UP THE DRAFT PARTY!😃
August 4th, 2025 at 6:54 am
I really doubt we go through with something like this though.
August 4th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Bucs have a SB offense – 30 points a game. Like the 2020 Offense
Maybe Reddick will give the Bucs a legit pass rush, time will tell.
If the Bucs do have a pass rush, then a Lombardi is within reach
Parsons is a player that could put the Bucs over the top for another Lombardi
Brady Bucs 2020 with 30 a game offense, and the defense had a decent pass rush, and it was fierce in the beat down of Mahome boy in the SB LV
That same formula in 2025 could bring the same results.
Would the Glazers pull another Glazer Surprise, Like getting Gruden and getting Brady?????
Most likely no, but……who knows
GO BUCS!!!!
August 4th, 2025 at 7:25 am
As much as I think Parsons would clearly set the team up for a SB appearance, the cost is too high. Licht is drafting well, and now that the salary cap is back under control, let’s just keep building through the draft and selectively acquiring a FA when needed.
August 4th, 2025 at 7:38 am
dude is getting old and not the same guy he was a couple years ago, 34 million is about 30 million too much, these athletes get insane money. the nfl needs to reset salaries nobody is worth that much to play a stupid game
August 4th, 2025 at 7:53 am
If you were 100% certain he wouldn’t get injured, then it would be justifiable but that’s not the reality of the NFL. He gets hurt and you’ve decimated your cap and ability to draft replacements. The guy from the Bengals would be a better value IMO.
August 4th, 2025 at 7:59 am
Give bonuses of $1 mil per sack over 10 to any Buc defender….Probably won’t have to pay so why not…
August 4th, 2025 at 8:04 am
We’re in a different era in the NFL. Offenses win championships now. Defenses just need to keep it close. All these $40-50 million rushers , their teams aren’t winning…ever.
August 4th, 2025 at 8:24 am
He’s been with the cowboys four years, and they can’t even win their division. Fans who want this money first player don’t know football.
August 4th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Today the Bucs have 8 players whose average salaries are $10 mil per year and over: Mayfield ($33.3 mil), Wirfs ($28.1 mil), Godwin ($22.0 mil), Evans ($20.5 mil) on offense and Winfield ($21.0 mil), Vea ($17.8 mil), Reddick ($14.0 mil), Dean ($13.0 mil) on defense.
That’s a total of $103.9 mil offense and $65.8 mil defense for a total of $169.7 mil for just 8 out of 53 players. Amounts to 60% of our adjusted $284.0 mil salary CAP for 2025. Practice squad, Injured Reserve, Dead CAP also all has to come out of that $284 mil, as well as the amount (currently $29.4 mil) that we try to keep in reserve for ‘contingencies’ in ‘the future’. Every year is a new balancing act, and Jason Licht has done an excellent job (in the past 4 years especially) in that regard.
But there-in lies the problem too. Create too many of those over $10 mil annual salaries and it’s almost impossible to maintain a consistently competitive TEAM. Looks like most teams only have 1 player from each position group in that $10 mil club (and that holds true for the Bucs except for WR group which has Evans AND Godwin).
Chances are if Haason Reddick performs very well this year, the Bucs will want to re-sign him. You’re talking $25 – $30 mil for a very productive OLB ($10-$15 mil MORE than he’s making now). The same will be true for Baker Mayfield & probably a couple other Bucs who’ll be FAs. Doubt seriously that JL has any interest in coughing up TWO Rnd 1 picks PLUS an additional $40-$50 mil per year for ANOTHER OLB. Something like that could negatively impact what he and Todd Bowles have been trying to build here.
August 4th, 2025 at 8:37 am
Football has always been a team game, if you pay so much for one piece, you fail to have enough to keep equal talent in the other positions. This is the Cowboys business model and the primary reason they aren’t among the top teams at the end of the year.
Jerry began this mess years ago with Meion Sanders and it has only gotten worse every year.
August 4th, 2025 at 8:38 am
If nothing else reddick may have cooled off the ” overpayment for edge rushers” arms race for a while
August 4th, 2025 at 8:51 am
There in lies the real problem with Bowles…Joe feels that he would relegate Parsons to fit his system rather than adjust his coaching to allow allow players to play to their talents. The great, even good coaches, adjust their style to play into the players talents, not expect them to change in order to fit the coaches system…..to handcuff a player in order to fit a coaching philosophy is not the best for any team
August 4th, 2025 at 8:56 am
DR’s post does a really good job illustrating how important ongoing good drafting and having good drafted players on their rookie contracts helps keep a good balance with the cap. If you have too many high-priced veterans you will lose a bunch of players eventually.
August 4th, 2025 at 9:12 am
I dont think Jason is even thinking about it anymore.
August 4th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Bucs don’t need this guy and his Diva vibes in the locker room. Licht/Bowles know it, too.
August 4th, 2025 at 9:29 am
draft and develop!!!!
trey henderickson is more tempting tho
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 4th, 2025 at 9:41 am
Licht is right on track to have a Super Bowl bound team. Thee is nothing to fix. Patience grasshopper!
LFG!!!!
August 4th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Last season the cowboys were getting the ball ran down their throats and Parsons was on the field. Didn’t help them.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Don’t bring in any damn Dallas Cowboys to infect this locker room like a zombie! I don’t get these Bucs fans who clamor for EVERY star player who requests a trade no matter how unrealistic. Licht passed on two older players this offseason that you can get for less.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:24 am
I would normally say don’t give up top picks, but the calculus changes if you really are convinced you’ll be in the NFC Championship or later. At that point, you are really talking about second round caliber picks – 28 to 32, not 1 through 15. So do you give up say, a pick 30 and a pick 32?
The cap is the other issue.
So overall I’d say pass, but Licht gets paid to make these calls. I’d be fine either way.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:37 am
2 first rounders YaYa and a 6th round pick. We should call Jerry. This team needs that impact player on defense. It’d make us top in the NFC guarantee. Him and Hassan for 1 yr 🤯🤯🤯 with Vita and Kancey like cmon this team could use the hype that’ll come with such a trade. Parsons would do wonders for our other players Vita could finally become an All-Pro , Kancey double digit sacks 4sure. Mannn life could be all so simple. No one we draft in the next two yrs will bring what Micah brings. Guaranteed!!!!
August 4th, 2025 at 10:40 am
I’m not trading any picks for a guy with less playoff wins than Baker
If the guy is so dominant as a pass rusher
Why Dallas has only one playoff win with him?
He’s no Lawrence Taylor, he doesn’t impact the game as LT did
All the Bucs need is two good, capable edge rushers
The last time they had that they won the Super Bowl (JPP, Shaq)
Their problem is drafting the wrong Edge Rushers
But I think Hassan Reddick is the guy that motivates these guys
August 4th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Jones always strings it out then signs them for big money. I think it’s part of his marketing plan. Drama and money is what the Cowboys are all about.
If it weren’t for the big money I’d do it for the Mack deal. Two firsts, a third, and a sixth for Parsons and a second rounder doesn’t seem that bad at all.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:53 am
I could easy part with Howard and Plan 9.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Jerry is not trading him. He has all of the leverage.
August 4th, 2025 at 11:47 am
The way Licht is drafting – the Bucs now have an open Super Bowl window for the next few years….
The only thing that closes that window is doing something stupid – like paying two first round draft picks + $200M for one defensive player…..
August 4th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Reddick’s gets 14 and is going to want 20M plus next year if he’s any good. Dean gets 13. Let those guys go and you’re almost back to baseline by next season. If Lavonte retires, you’re right there.
Hall, Vea, Kancey, Reddick and Parsons. That could be the best group of d-line starters in the NFL, possibly. A Super Bowl level defense is quite possible. The offense is right there.
Parsons is only 26. Just four years under his belt. Still improving, maybe. Seems like he’s been around forever because he’s played at an All Pro level since the get-go.
August 4th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
So it oash rush is the weakest link
August 4th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Parsons is elite the bucs couldnt stop it even with wires and a tight end to help
August 4th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
If he didn’t cost draft picks and it was just a big salary, I’d say hell yeah! But draft capital makes it D.O.A….I’d rather get Hendrickson from Bengals anyway…but he would cost the same picks i reckon, so that’s a bummer as well…cause if it.was just financial, I’d jump on either! And man, that would surely put our D into another stratosphere
August 4th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
It was fun to dream about him n David next to each other even if it’s for just a second
August 4th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Well, the 2020 season is evidence to the contrary.
August 4th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
The price is too high, the Bucs need a better edge rusher & they went out & got it. Let’s give Hassan a little time & a few games to prove his worth. He looked like the type player who makes every player on the D-line better & a better pass rush makes the back end stronger. Have some faith Buc Fans the BUCCANEERS will dominate , BOOK IT !!!!
August 4th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Joe Says:
“Football has always been a team game, if you pay so much for one piece, you fail to have enough to keep equal talent in the other positions”
Well, the 2020 season is evidence to the contrary.
—————————————————————————–
No its not…. The Bucs went over $150M in debt to put that team together. A financial hole the team is just now getting itself out of 5 years later…..
Was it worth it to get the Super Bowl win? Absolutely!
And it made sense at that moment – because we all knew Brady’s time with the Bucs would only be 2 or 3 years.
This is no longer the case…. We have a franchise QB in Mayfield for at least the next few years… perhaps even another 8-10 years….
Jason Licht is the best drafting GM in the whole league and we currently have a very talented (and mostly young) team that can compete for Super Bowls year in and year out for the foreseeable future…
Any attempt to go “all in” for a specific year messes up the Bucs chances to be as competitive as possible in the years following. And if you don’t win the Super Bowl after having gone all in for 1 specific year – then you just also screwed your ability to try and win one the next year or the next after that….
Licht should not and will not jeopardize the Bucs legitimate capability to compete for a Lombardi trophy in 2026. 2027 and beyond by spending a fortune in draft capital and cap space for 1 defensive player!
August 4th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Myles Garrett was to rich to trade for in March, Parsons isn’t even a consideration for the Bucs. I could see Parsons traded to the Rams or Commanders(i know, in the same division as the Cowboys) because they have a lot of cap room in 26 and 27. Rams – 73 million and over 100 million and Commanders 62 million and over 100 million in 27. The Raiders are also a consideration but are farther away from a SB than the Rams and Commanders appear to be. The Bucs offense is so dynamic, the defense just needs to be average, create some turnovers and get off the field on 3rd down. Not sure about Parsons love for football…he is extremely gifted but not sure of his work ethic or desire to be great.
August 4th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
If the Bucs win a third Super Bowl this century they might be considered close to an elite franchise, the Glazers will be considered elite owner, and Licht will be considered a great GM.
The Glazers won their first two Super Bowls after splashy moves—trading for Gruden and signing Brady. They say great things happen in threes.
August 4th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
No thanks, pass on Parsons.
With the culture and comrade’s that is in place within One Bucs a place I think trading and paying huge money to #11 would be a big mistake, this team is so tight knittted that a “me” guy like #11 would be a huge disruption.
I totally get it, Parsons is the best at what he does but JL loves his draft picks and has nailed the draft perfectly for the most part.
LFG!!! BUCS, fire them cannons
August 4th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
I would not view it as just a one year ‘all-in’ deal, because any trade for Parsons would have to be a trade that includes an extension already being set pre-trade. I don’t see anyone giving up TWO ‘first-rounders’ plus, without already having his extension/contract issues completely solved. And, we already have Baker and most of our other ‘impact-players’ for at least another season anyway, which would be Parson’s SECOND Bucs season… Then, you can extend Baker, and manipulate the cap even more. In THE NFL, when there’s a will, there is ALWAYS, a way!!!! And, we should be in pretty good shape to be able to pull-off that type of move without any issues. That CAP is constantly moving up every year. Deals that ‘look’ crazy or insane, suddenly look very good in just a year or so… Just more and more money. LOTS of money.
August 4th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
All-in is one thing. Bringing in a high priced potential poison to our locker room is another. Someone coming out of the Cowboys circus makes me very wary.
August 4th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Not coming here. He will stay in Dallas or go to Atlanta. Atlanta believes they are one defensive star away from the Super Bowl. Personally, I think they are inflating Penix who completed only 58% of his passes last year. But the Atlanta Press thinks they are one player away from a dominating defense.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
We get him we get more picks
August 4th, 2025 at 11:00 pm
Agree with Joe- there is ZERO chance we trade for him.
Zero.
August 4th, 2025 at 11:11 pm
Draft Savvy ?
Jason Light has never drafted a great pass rusher
Even if we keep the picks we won’t be drafting a great pass rusher knowing Jason Light and Bowles.
He’s drafted Oj Howard, JTS, Logan Hall all with our first pick in the draft
Decent Bucs players —- but no where near Parsons
The draft is a hit or miss
Plus if we win, we’d be trading a pick in the high 20s, not a top 5 overall pick
Who cares if this is Lavonte Davids last season
Who cares if this is the Bucs 50th season
WHO NEEDS AN ELITE PASS RUSHER WHEN THERE IS ALWAYS NEXT YEARS DRAFT !!!
Why go all in to win a superbowl when there is always NEXT YEAR
Typical Bucs typical Jason Light
August 5th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Pretty silly to claim a guy who gets 12-14 sacks every year is unmotivated or will be a cancer. Players want to win. The other players would be juiced. Bowles’ defense only works with a ferocious pass rush.
But I understand it may be more fun for some grouchy older fans to whine about the lack of homegrown outside pass rushers, or the old days with JPP and Simeon, than to watch a similar talent on the field in the here and now. Can’t really moan about Baker anymore!