Inside The Star
For all the talk about Micah Parsons’ contract situation, fans are forgetting about a slew of players who need extensions. Outside of Tyler Smith, the entire 2022 Cowboys draft class is up for new contracts after the 2025 season.
That’s a huge deal for the make-up of Dallas’ roster. Five players from that class, ranging from the second round to the fifth, have made considerable impacts during their young careers.
When you have the big contracts on the books, like Dak Prescott’s, CeeDee Lamb’s, and at some point, Parsons’s, you can’t afford to keep everybody.
Stephen Jones today on Micah Parsons contract talks: “We want Micah here. He knows we want him here. I think ultimately we’ll get something done.” pic.twitter.com/6pTEa2wSIj
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) May 15, 2025
There will be players from that stellar class who walk in free agency due to financial constraints.
The only question is, who earns a contract extension? Despite the early success and name recognition of some of these players, they have all fallen short within the past year. Whether from injuries, suspensions, or lackluster performance, these guys need to step up.
What will it take for them to stay in Dallas long-term? That’s what we’re here to discuss. Let’s talk about what needs to happen, extension-wise, for the important pieces of that Cowboys draft class.
Dallas’ third and fourth-round picks, Jalen Tolbert and Jake Ferguson, enter 2025 in a similar situation. Both weapons for Prescott have seen highs and lows, and could see a decrease in targets this season.
Tolbert, 26, has improved every year of his NFL career, and he is now coming off a 610-yard, seven-touchdown season.
He was asked to step up with Lamb and Brandin Cooks missing time, and all things considered, he did that. Tolbert became a reliable target for Prescott, and later the backup quarterbacks, as he stretched the field and stayed healthy.
However, with George Pickens entering the fray, his spot in this offense is in question. He is now in a contract year, and how he produces in 2025 will dictate if the Cowboys want him back.
https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1924933828432560306
Ferguson was a top option for Prescott in 2023 and set the bar high in the process. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to follow up his Pro Bowl-caliber play last year.
The former Wisconsin Badger saw a significant drop-off in every statistical category, and if that happens for a second year in a row, it’s hard to see Dallas taking an interest in paying him. They have tight end depth and stardom at wide receiver already.
On the other hand, if he comes back to his 2023 form, it could become a no-brainer for the Cowboys to extend him. These two guys are legitimately on the bubble heading into 2025 and beyond.
With Ferguson and Tolbert, the question is whether they can return to, or...
