Hold on to your helmets, Cowboys fans! Adam Schefter just dropped a bombshell about Jerry Jones’ alleged $40.5 million offer to Micah Parsons. Was it a handshake deal or a hardball tactic? This contract drama took an unexpected turn with a blockbuster trade. What really happened behind the scenes?

The contentious saga between Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and star linebacker Micah Parsons has captivated the NFL world, with ESPN insider Adam Schefter finally shedding light on a rumored contract offer from March that fueled much of the dispute. This revelation from Schefter provides a crucial piece of the puzzle in what had previously been a “he-said, he-said” narrative surrounding the supposed agreement.

According to Schefter, Jones allegedly presented Parsons with a lucrative five-year deal averaging $40.5 million per year. Had this offer been finalized at the time, it would have instantly positioned Parsons as the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, underscoring his immense value to the Dallas Cowboys defense. However, subsequent major deals for other elite pass rushers like Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett quickly reset the market, with T.J. Watt’s then-$41 million per year deal also setting a new benchmark.

Schefter elaborated on his findings during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, clarifying that the proposed five-year extension may or may not have included Parsons’ existing final year. Despite the ambiguity on the exact total, the core detail of an average annual salary of $40.5 million was presented by Schefter as the figure Jerry Jones believed they had agreed upon, highlighting the significant financial commitment on the table.

This disclosure came amidst heightened tensions, as the Dallas Cowboys grappled with Parsons’ formal trade request in August, following his complete holdout from preseason camp due to the unresolved contract situation. The timing was particularly sensitive, with the Cowboys just a week away from kicking off their 2025 NFL regular season against the reigning Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football, a critical period for team cohesion.

Parsons remained under contract with the Dallas Cowboys after the team exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal during the offseason. Jerry Jones had previously expressed a strong desire to retain his star pass-rusher, aiming to keep Micah Parsons a Cowboy through the 2027 season, indicating the team’s long-term vision for their defensive cornerstone.

However, with no resolution in sight as the regular season approached, the Dallas Cowboys front office began evaluating all available options, including the possibility of a trade. Schefter noted the intricate process involved in such a scenario, where another team would first need to present a compelling contract to Parsons, followed by negotiations with Dallas for trade compensation, suggesting a complex, multi-layered transaction.

Ultimately, the situation culminated in a dramatic trade, sending Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. The blockbuster deal saw the Cowboys acquire two first-round draft picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, a significant haul that reshaped both franchises and sent shockwaves across the NFL. This trade marked the end of Parsons’ tenure in Dallas, a move that came less than a month after his public trade request.

Adding another layer to the drama, Parsons claimed he was willing to return to the negotiating table with the Dallas Cowboys before the trade, but the team reportedly declined, insisting he play under his fifth-year option. This contradicts Jerry Jones’ assertion of a prior “handshake” agreement for a long-term extension, which he claimed Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, had vulgarly rejected. These conflicting accounts underscore the rapid deterioration of the relationship between Parsons and the Cowboys organization.

The unresolved contract dispute and subsequent trade of Micah Parsons serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes and intricate dynamics involved in NFL player negotiations. The conflicting narratives from both sides leave fans and analysts dissecting what truly transpired behind the scenes, leaving a lasting imprint on the legacies of both the player and the iconic Dallas Cowboys owner.