The Dallas Cowboys could've had a superstar on each side of the ball for the foreseeable future, but it wasn't meant to be. They traded three-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on August 28 after he "held in" during preseason.
The 26-year-old spent four seasons with the Cowboys, earning a Pro Bowl bid in each one and totaling 52.5 sacks over that time. He publicly asked for a trade via his social media on August 1, expressing discontent over the organization trying to phase out his agent in contract negotiations.
Conversely, Dallas signed former NFL receptions leader Ceedee Lamb to a four-year, $136 million contract in August 2024 after he held out for a new deal. Additionally, it inked franchise quarterback Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million extension in September of that year. Jones initially tried to negotiate with the signal-caller directly, but he shut him down and told him to talk to his agent, via The Athletic.
That strategy backfired with Parsons, but Jones still defended himself on Tuesday, via 105.3 The Fan.
“There is no violation," he said. "Period. I have all the authority in the world, and the player has all the authority in the world to negotiate directly with me. There is no equivocation there.”
“Can I work through an agent or an attorney? An attorney can do the very same thing. Do it all the time," he continued. "It usually ends up a little of both on a pretty high-profile player, but there is no violation. I have every right. Can you imagine if you didn’t have the right when you’re the one that decides whether to trade them or not? How could you not have the right?”
Cowboys owner & GM Jerry Jones on @1053SS, @rjchoppy and @BobbyBeltTX on if he's allowed to negotiate contracts directly with players:
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) September 9, 2025
“There is no violation, period." pic.twitter.com/yLdXKItpud
Jerry Jones must adjust after Micah Parsons situation
While Jones is correct that he has the right to negotiate with a player directly, he must also understand why Parsons detested that strategy. Athletes hire agents specifically to handle those situations so that they can focus on playing.
Now, Jones must find another defensive star for Dallas to develop. The organization did get two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark in return, but losing Parsons is a setback that could take years to recover from. It may behoove the longtime executive to reconsider his negotiation strategy the next time it's time to pay a star.