Cowboys accept the five-year option from Micah Parsons, but at a different position.

The Dallas Cowboys have decided to exercise Micah Parsons’s fifth-year option, as initially reported by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. However, the situation is more nuanced than it appears. Instead of categorizing Parsons as a linebacker, the Cowboys are opting to designate him as a defensive end, which will result in approximately $2.7 million in savings for the team.

This classification adjustment is based on financial considerations. Over The Cap projects that the fifth-year option for linebackers with multiple Pro Bowl appearances would amount to $24,007,000, whereas a defensive end with at least one Pro Bowl appearance would command $21,324,000.

Although Parsons is primarily utilized as a defensive end, he was initially drafted as a linebacker, which complicates the fifth-year option scenario. There’s speculation that Parsons or his agent might contest this classification through a grievance process. However, Pro Football Focus reports that Parsons has played 87.8 percent of his snaps as a defensive end in the 2023 season, suggesting that any potential challenge may not alter the team’s decision.

It’s essential to recognize that exercising the fifth-year option serves as a temporary measure in case a new contract agreement isn’t reached in the upcoming offseason. If Parsons and the Cowboys negotiate a new deal, which is likely to make him the highest-paid defensive end in NFL history, the fifth-year option will become inconsequential.

Parsons has already achieved remarkable success early in his career, including winning the Rookie Defensive Player of the Year award, earning multiple All-Pro honors, and securing Pro Bowl nominations. In December of the previous season, he joined Reggie White as the only player to achieve 12 or more sacks in each of their first three seasons played, putting him on track to potentially challenge White’s all-time sack record if he maintains his current trajectory.

While Parsons’s on-field performance speaks for itself, there’s a suggestion to dial down the off-field attention in 2024. Despite his podcast and media appearances, it’s advised to deflect any negative commentary and focus on delivering standout performances during game days.

The financial landscape for the Cowboys is also highlighted, with significant expenditures expected on both offense and defense. The impending decisions regarding Dak Prescott’s contract, potential extensions for Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, and the overall cost of retaining key players underscore the team’s financial considerations moving forward.