In the high-stakes world of NFL contracts, Jerry Jones has always kept his strategy under wraps. But negotiations over Micah Parsons’ deal are putting the Cowboys’ owner’s trademark confidence to the test. Imagine a Texas Hold’em face-off where the stakes aren’t just pride—they’re $200 million.
Parsons, a defensive powerhouse, is all-in—not just on his future, but on his loyalty to his agent, David Mulugheta. Meanwhile, Jones is sticking to his old-school negotiation tactics. The tension? As thick as a Texas summer. The drama escalated when Jones dismissed Mulugheta’s role, claiming at the league meetings in March that he didn’t “know his name.”
Reports suggest the Cowboys offered Parsons a record-breaking $200 million contract over five years, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. But Jones’ reluctance to acknowledge Mulugheta—who also represents stars like C.J. Stroud and Jalen Ramsey—has created a stalemate. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky weighed in, warning, “Won’t go well for Jerry lol. Mulugheta is as good as it gets in that business lol.”
Loyalty vs. Power Play: The Parsons Contract Standoff
The tension erupted when Jones brushed off Parsons’ agent during the NFL owners’ meetings, saying, “I don’t know his name. And so my point is, I’m not trying to demean him in any way, but this isn’t about an agent.” Parsons quickly fired back on social media:
“Facts!! David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without @DavidMulugheta involved! Like anyone with good sense I hired experts for a reason. There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts than David! There will be no backdoors in this contract negotiation.”
At the heart of this standoff is more than just money—it’s control. The Cowboys’ offer would set a new benchmark, surpassing Myles Garrett’s $160 million deal. But while Jones prefers to negotiate directly, Parsons insists his agent remains in charge. And if history has shown anything, it’s that Jerry Jones is no stranger to a negotiation battle.