Adam Schefter Predicts Micah Parsons Will Sign Historic Contract With Cowboys

"Micah Parsons I expect to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history," Schefter said. "[Trey] Hendrickson, [T.J] Watt: I think they'll be in the [Maxx] Crosby, [Myles] Garrett range -- somewhere in there. I don't have an exact number. ... But I can say, I believe with great confidence, that Micah Parsons will become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. If you go back and look at some of the numbers, his numbers are outstanding. And he's younger than all of them."

Garrett inked a four-year contract extension this offseason with the Cleveland Browns worth a total of $160 million ($40 million annually), which is the most any defender at any position has ever made on a per season basis. As such, that is the number Schefter is predicting Parsons will beat. 

Parsons, a former first-round pick (No. 12 overall) in 2021, is entering the final season of his rookie contract in 2025. He initially inked a four-year deal worth $17.1 million, but Dallas exercised a fifth-year team option on that agreement, which pays Parsons just over $24 million in his age-26 campaign.

Technically, the Cowboys will be able to use the franchise tag to hold onto Parsons on a lucrative one-year contract in 2026, though it makes far more sense for the team to extend him before that if Dallas intends to keep him longterm. The longer they wait, the more Parsons' price tag is likely to rise based on projected increases to the league-wide salary cap and other defensive players potentially resetting the high watermark financially. 

Parsons is a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro honoree who has amassed 63 tackles for loss and 52.5 sacks in 63 games played over his four-year NFL career.