Dallas Cowboys: Key Players Seeking Contract Extensions Beyond Micah Parsons

Cowboys’ 2022 Draft Class: Time to Lock Down Smith, Ferguson, and Bland?

Frisco, TX – The Dallas Cowboys find themselves at a critical juncture, facing
the prospect of securing the long-term future of key players while navigating
the complexities of the NFL salary cap.

while the looming contract extension for All-pro linebacker
Micah Parsons understandably dominates headlines, three other vital
contributors from the Cowboys’ 2022 draft class are also eligible for new
deals.

Pro Bowl guard tyler Smith, a frist-round pick, has already had his
fifth-year option picked up for 2026 at a cost of $21.27 million. Though,
tight end Jake Ferguson, a fourth-round selection, and cornerback DaRon Bland,
a fifth-round steal, are entering the final year of thier respective rookie
contracts.

The Cowboys strategically created over $55 million in salary cap space,
ostensibly to address these impending contract situations. While they haven’t
splashed the cash on high-profile free agents,this financial flexibility
provides an opportunity to secure the futures of Smith,Ferguson,Bland,and
Parsons.

Extending Parsons’ contract could, in fact, *decrease* his 2025 salary cap
hit, a common strategy employed by NFL teams. Extensions for Smith, Ferguson,
and Bland would naturally increase their cap numbers for 2025, but the
long-term benefits of retaining these key players could outweigh the
short-term financial implications.

Tyler Smith, a local product from North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, has
quickly become a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ offensive line. A Second Team
All-Pro selection in 2023 and a two-time Pro Bowler,Smith is still just 24
years old. Wiht Zack Martin’s retirement, smith is poised to become the
leader of the offensive line, much like Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and
Martin before him.

In my mind, I think that it only begins with maintaining that standard,”

Smith acknowledged.
When I got here, from the video study to the simulations, I have seen how
they train Tyron and Zack. I have seen how they study.I have thought about
how I can be the best leader I can be. How can I continue to raise the
standard they imposed before me. It is something that I carry in my heart
every day.

DaRon Bland’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He earned All-pro
honors in 2023 after leading the league with nine interceptions and setting
an NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns in a single
season. Jake Ferguson, meanwhile, was a Pro Bowl injury replacement in 2023,
hauling in 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns.

Injuries hampered both Ferguson and Bland during the 2024 season. Bland missed
10 games after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot, and
failed to record an interception after grabbing 14 in his first two seasons.
Ferguson missed three games due to a knee sprain and a concussion, finishing
with 59 receptions for 494 yards.

historically, the Cowboys have prioritized extending players before their
contract year, a strategy that provided salary cap flexibility through
restructuring. Players like Smith, Frederick, Tyrone Crawford, Terence Newman,
Jason witten, Bradie James, Tony Romo, and DeMarcus Ware all signed
extensions before hitting the open market.

Though, those days seem to be in the past. Now, the Cowboys must convince
Smith, Ferguson, and Bland that Dallas is the ideal long-term destination.
This likely requires offering competitive guarantees and potentially exceeding
market value. While ther’s inherent risk in this approach, the risk of
waiting and potentially paying even more later is arguably greater.

The recent contract extension signed by Houston Texans cornerback Derek
Stingley Jr., averaging $30 million per season, likely sets the ceiling for
Bland’s potential deal.Three years ago, the Cowboys signed Trevon Diggs to a
five-year, $97 million contract ($19 million annually).

Ferguson’s projection is more challenging due to his 2024 injuries and the
relative value of the tight end position compared to others.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase is now the highest-paid receiver in NFL
history at $40.25 million per season, briefly surpassing Cleveland Browns
defensive end Myles Garrett, who held the record at $40 million annually.

While Parsons has publicly stated he doesn’t need to be the highest-paid
defensive player in the NFL, his agent undoubtedly has diffrent ideas. Last
season, the Cowboys waited until late in training camp to sign CeeDee Lamb and
until hours before the regular season to extend Dak Prescott, making Lamb the
second-highest-paid receiver and Prescott the highest-paid player in the
game at the time.

The Cowboys could control Parsons through the 2028 season using the franchise
tag. parsons has expressed his desire to remain with the Cowboys “forever,”
and the team has reciprocated that sentiment. Perhaps a mutually agreeable
deal can be reached sooner than expected.

However,if the Cowboys need to use the franchise tag on Parsons,they won’t
have it available for Smith,Ferguson,or Bland next March.

In a perfect world,the Cowboys would secure contract extensions for all four
players before the start of the season,but recent history suggests that’s
unlikely.

Signing at least one or two of them would be a good start.