Mina Kimes Makes Case For Re-Signing Cowboys Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 4:07 PM ET

In response to ESPN's "First Take" analysts Stephen A. Smith and Chris Canty arguing that the Dallas Cowboys should trade their star Micah Parsons, Mina Kimes laid out why the franchise should re-sign the 25-year-old linebacker.

Kimes believes the Cowboys should have already re-signed Parsons. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defender will play on the fifth-year club option of his rookie contract in 2025. He will earn $24 million this season.

"They should keep him," said Kimes. "They should pay him, and then you can figure it out. It's not an untenable cap situation to pay him and restructure Dak Prescott. I've looked at it. It's entirely possible for this team to do this."

Over the last 2 seasons Micah Parsons ranks...

1st in pressure rate
1st in pass rush win rate
1st in double team rate

You don't build a roster for short *or* long term success by moving on from players like that. https://t.co/I3tb7B4eN4
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) February 20, 2025

Kimes also shared several key stats about Parsons' contributions to the Cowboys' defense over the last two seasons on social media, further bolstering the two-time first-team All-Pro's credentials.

Earlier in the segment, Canty made the argument that the Cowboys would complicate their salary cap situation further by giving Parsons a new contract. Trading him would carry no dead cap penalty and clear his full $24 million salary off the books, allowing Dallas to take steps toward avoiding a future spent fighting against the cap.

However, Spotrac projects Parsons will earn an average annual salary of $33.7 million on his next deal and possibly more if he pushes to be the top-paid defensive player in the league, ahead of San Francisco's Nick Bosa, who earns $34 million annually.

Dallas is already $2.8 million over the cap, and nearly a third of their salary cap is tied up in Prescott's $89.9 million cap hit, who will certainly require a restructure to free up space this offseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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