The Dallas Cowboys’ offseason has been nothing short of a soap opera, with star players CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons causing a stir due to their absence from the Organized Team Activities (OTAs). As the team attempted to regroup post-2024 NFL Draft, the spotlight turned to these two key players and their contract negotiations—or lack thereof.
Nick Wright, a prominent Fox Sports analyst, didn’t mince words on FS1’s “First Things First.” He labeled the Cowboys’ hesitancy to secure deals with Lamb and Parsons as “absurd,” predicting a costly delay for the franchise.
Wright’s analysis was sharp and to the point, highlighting the potential financial repercussions of the team’s current strategy. It’s absurd to not pay either one. Because the logic of not paying one would dictate you pay the other one.
So the reason I think they’re not paying CeeDee is because they want to wait for Justin Jefferson to sign because that sets the ceiling, and he’s going to come in underneath that,” Wright explained. He then drew a parallel for Parsons, calling him the “Justin Jefferson of defensive players,” underscoring the urgency to finalize his contract.
CeeDee Lamb Rising Cost
Wright pointed out the escalating market value of players like Lamb, especially as his peers like Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions and DeVonta Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles secure lucrative extensions. This trend only emphasizes the potential cost the Cowboys might incur the longer they delay.
And in the meantime, the CeeDee Lamb price just keeps going up, while you’re waiting on Justin Jefferson to set the ceiling. So yeah, it’s bad business,” Wright added.
Micah Parsons A Lone Wolf Preparing for Return
Amid the chaos, Micah Parsons has charted a different course. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Parsons is set to rejoin the team next week, despite his contract frustrations. The linebacker has been keeping sharp by training independently and taking boxing classes with local coach Tony Mack in Dallas.
Parsons shared with Gehlken that while the contract situation isn’t his primary concern, last season’s playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers still haunts him.
The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker is considered one of the NFL’s top defensive talents, yet he’s slated to earn a base salary of just $2.989 million this year, which he and many others see as an underpayment.
What Lies Ahead for the Dallas Cowboys?
As the Cowboys navigate this precarious situation, the decisions they make in the coming weeks could define their season. With the market setting a steep price for talent, Dallas must weigh its financial strategies against the risk of alienating its top players.
The clock is ticking for the Cowboys. Will they secure their stars or face the fallout of their current standoff? As Wright and many others observe, it’s a high-stakes game of chess with multi-million dollar consequences.
